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to fight one's corner

to fight one's corner

7.0
Defend your ideas or what you want when others disagree
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : defender su posición
  • Even though many disagreed with her approach, she continued to fight her corner and advocate for change.

Examples

  • In the meeting, she decided to fight her corner and defend her proposal despite the criticism from her colleagues.

  • He always knows how to fight his corner during debates, making strong arguments to back his views.

  • Speak your truth and stand your ground, fight your corner...

    Blog text (25)
  • I'd love to fight your corner, darling.

  • I think both you and Salma are trying to 'fight your corner,' and it can come across as a bit offensive to others.

    Blog text (19)

Synonyms

to defend
vsto fight one's corner
691 2.8

To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it

focuses on keeping one's own position against critics
to stand up for
vsto fight one's corner
256 2.7

Defend or support someone who is treated unfairly

focuses on protecting one's own views rather than another person
to fight back
vsto fight one's corner
188 3.3

Resist an attack or criticism by responding

focuses on principled defence rather than active retaliation
to stick up
vsto fight one's corner
  • Informal
59 4.3

To support someone when others criticize or attack them

applies more to protecting personal positions and interests
to stand your ground
vsto fight one's corner
  • Informal
25 5.7

To keep your position when others disagree

emphasizes defending interests and opinions against criticism
to stand up against
vsto fight one's corner
22 3.7

To resist a person or rule that treats people unfairly

centres on safeguarding one's position against critics rather than general opposition
to stick to one's guns
vsto fight one's corner
  • Informal
12 6.7

Keep supporting your idea when others disagree

involves active protection of one's position when challenged
to stand fast
vsto fight one's corner
4 6.4

Refuse to change your mind when others disagree

is used for protecting one's position under attack
to take up the cudgel
vsto fight one's corner
  • Archaic
8.9

Begin to strongly defend a person or cause in public

is about protecting personal opinions rather than launching public campaigns

Antonyms

401 3.8

Stop supporting an idea or plan

49 4.9

To accept that you have lost a contest or election

How Firm

to stand your ground
  • Informal
25 5.7
to fight one's corner
  • UK
7.0
to defend
691 2.8
to explain
1.0
to accept
3.5

Surface Forms

fight one's corner infinitive
fighting one's corner present participle
fights one's corner third person singular
fought one's corner past participle

Morphology

fight + one + corner

The verb 'fight' (to resist or defend) gives a clear cue, but 'one's corner' is metaphorical here (corner = one's position/interest) rather than literal, so the full idiomatic sense 'defend one's position or interests' is not completely predictable from the parts. A B1 learner who knows the words might guess a related sense (resist or defend) but would likely need exposure to confirm the precise pragmatic meaning, so the expression is partially but not fully transparent.

Etymology

Fight one's corner comes from boxing. In a match, a fighter's team stands in the fighter's corner to protect and support them, so to fight one's corner means 'to defend your position or ideas'.