up against

Idioms and Phrases

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

“I’m not sure that you are aware of the intensity of the battle of Board District 3 that we were up against,” Schmerelson said after being sworn in.

From Los Angeles Times

A massive buildout of this sort involves not just brushing up against resistant local communities, but inevitably running afoul of regulations governing the natural environment, climate change mitigation, and market competition.

From Slate

After a frustrating season of setbacks and wrong turns, USC will finish right back where it started: In Las Vegas, up against a team from the Southeastern Conference.

From Los Angeles Times

Muscles aching from the weight of each 55-pound projectile, the repetition, the heat, Fernandez lost track of himself, too busy to think, too scared to stop, not unlike his time in the ring up against any another flyweight.

From Los Angeles Times

Those are litmus tests, a chance for the Rams and Chargers to see how they measure up against two of the best teams in the league.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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