up against
235
5.1
- idiom
:
enfrentarse a
- She was up against a tight deadline and had to work late to finish the project on time.
- up against a wall
- up against opposition
- up against powers
I could have put candidates up against all the sitting MPs.
- I could have put candidates up against all the sitting MPs.
- Second dates don't try to go up against the biggest people in the scene.
- The Republicans are always up, always up against dishonest media that loathes them.
- We will come up against losses and mistakes.
- OK, So we're constantly up against the fear of North Korea.
- But yeah, that other individual that you're putting your protagonist up against can be.
- So we kept sending people in, throwing them up against a complete unknown.
- So your next fights, you're up against the Brazil girl.
- That's what we're up against, seen and not seen all at the same time.
- Well, this woman is right up against the upper limit and well, OK.
Examples
-
OK, So we're constantly up against the fear of North Korea.
-
One group of people, when they come up against a recession, they shrink.
-
You know what we need and what we're up against.
-
If I went up against you, what chance would I have had?
-
Let me just tell you generally what we're up against, so far as I understand it.
Fiction book (1991) -
For once in your life, admit that you are up against something bigger than you.
-
We will come up against losses and mistakes.
-
And here we're starting to come up against our first snag.
-
I'm up against a very serious problem, but the answer to it is simple as pie to a fella like me, simple as pie.
-
Mandating policy changes from Washington will not help, and ultimately will run up against constitutional problems.
Academic text (2002)
Synonyms
∞
2.2
To deal with a difficult situation or person
7
8.0
In a difficult situation with little time or help
5
5.7
To keep going when you face serious problems
5
3.9
Deal with a difficult problem or situation
Face unexpected problems or opposition while doing something
Antonyms
How Severe
88
3.9
3
7.4
274
2.6
235
5.1
∞
2.2
61
4.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
up + against
The meaning is partially derivable because 'against' signals opposition/contact, which maps onto being confronted by an obstacle; however, the particle 'up' does not add a fully predictable semantic contribution and the sequence 'up against' is a lexicalized combination meaning 'facing/dealing with' rather than a simple literal spatial relation. A B1 learner who knows the parts might guess the general idea (being opposed or confronted) but would likely need exposure to acquire the precise idiomatic sense and usage.
Etymology
Up against comes from the picture of someone pressed up against a wall or fence by an opponent or a problem, with no room to move. So, being up against something means 'facing' a strong difficulty or opponent you must deal with.