бороться с собой

• БОРОТЬСЯ С (САМИМ) СОБОЙ{{}}

[VP; subj: human]

=====

⇒ to try to overcome a certain feeling or desire in o.s., try to resolve an inner conflict:

- X боролся с собой{{}}≈ X struggled <wrestled> with himself;

- X did battle with himself;

- X fought an internal battle;

- [in limited contexts] X tried to stop himself (from doing sth.);

- X tried to force himself (to do sth.).

     ♦ Космонавт вообще любил драться. Вернее, не то чтобы любил - приходилось. Когда он видел какую-нибудь "морду", ему всегда хотелось врезать в неё. Он боролся с собой, воспитывал себя, но не получалось (Евтушенко 2). The cosmonaut liked fighting in general. Actually, it wasn't that he liked to fight - he had to. Whenever he saw a troublemaker, he wanted to smash his ugly face. He tried to stop himself, practiced self-control, but it didn't help (2a).