To ‘fend for yourself’ is to provide for yourself – to be able to cope with whatever life throws at you. The expression is usually applied to youngsters, animal or human, who have previously been taken care of by their parents.
Fend for yourself
What's the meaning of the phrase 'Fend for yourself'?
What's the origin of the phrase 'Fend for yourself'?
‘Fend for yourself’ is one of the phrases that we deduce the meaning of by the context it is used in and assimilate as we are learning the language.
There’s not a great deal to be said about this phrase, other than that it originated in England in the mid 17th century.
The first example that I have found of the expression in print is in a book by the English writer Thomas Jackson, A treatise of the divine essence and attributes. 1629:
The lioness doth not perpetually nourish her whelps with her own substance; nor does the raven continually provide for her young ones… but leave them to fend for themselves..
The history of “Fend for yourself” in printed materials
Trend of fend for yourself in printed material over time
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