up against

1. Contending or confronted with, as in I'm up against a strong opponent in this election. This idiom is also put as up against it, which means “in serious difficulty, especially in desperate financial straits.” For example, When the collection agency called again, we knew we were up against it. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

“It was kind of like low-level counterinsurgency against anybody who stood up against the U.S. government,” Leonard said.

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He also said that exigent circumstances — protests that sprang up against immigration raids — shifted conditions at facility, thus impacting clients’ access to attorneys.

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Toronto Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage will become the second-youngest pitcher in history to start a World Series opener when he lines up against Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

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“I’ve never seen him to be vulgar. I’ve never seen him be disrespectful or rile people up against the law enforcement or ICE. No, he simply informs. The guy is a good man.”

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The group’s cash cow was up against a challenging comparison base after sales more-than doubled in last year’s third quarter.

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Related Words

• anti 
• antithetical 
• averse 
• disputed 
• hostile 
• inimical 
• opposing