to struggle / kill time / flail
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to struggle with
To have to deal with an unpleasant problem, a difficult task, or an annoying person. It expresses that you spend a lot of time and energy on something you would rather avoid.
Ich muss mich schon seit Wochen mit diesem kaputten Drucker herumschlagen.
I've had to struggle with this broken printer for weeks now.
'Herumschlagen' (to struggle / kill time / flail) is a separable verb. The prefix 'herum-' stands at the end in main clauses, while in subordinate clauses and in the infinitive it remains attached to the verb.
Er schlägt sich jeden Tag mit technischen Problemen herum.
He struggles with technical problems every day.
You can recognize the meaning from the sentence structure: 'sich mit etwas herumschlagen' (to struggle with something), 'sich die Zeit herumschlagen' (to kill time), and 'herumschlagen' without a reflexive pronoun (uncontrolled movement).
Ich schlage mich mit der komplizierten Anleitung herum.
I'm struggling with the complicated instructions.
This meaning is always used reflexively with 'sich' and the preposition 'mit' + dative. The person who has the problem is the subject of the sentence.
Die Anwohner schlagen sich seit Monaten mit dem Baulärm herum.
The residents have been struggling with the construction noise for months.
The expression 'sich die Zeit herumschlagen' (to kill time) is a fixed unit. The reflexive pronoun is in the dative, and 'die Zeit' (the time) is the accusative object.
Am Bahnhof schlug ich mir zwei Stunden lang die Zeit herum.
At the train station, I killed two hours of time.
to fight
'kämpfen' and 'sich herumschlagen mit' can both mean that you are dealing with a problem or difficulty. 'kämpfen mit' sounds stronger and more serious: you are making a real effort and truly want to overcome the difficulty. 'sich herumschlagen mit' is used more for something annoying or unpleasant that costs time and energy and that you would rather not have to deal with. Learners may confuse the words because both are connected with problems. As a simple guide: for a serious inner or practical problem, 'kämpfen mit' often fits; for annoying tasks or everyday hassles, 'sich herumschlagen mit' often fits.
Hannes hat sich heute mit alten Rechnungen herumgeschlagen.
Hannes spent today dealing with old invoices.
Seit Wochen kämpft sie mit starken Rückenschmerzen.
She has been struggling with severe back pain for weeks.