up against it

Examples

• All

• Okay, so 2 million line of credit, it's been yanked, and now you're up against it.

  Ripple Effect (2007)

• You listen to Paul Wellstone, U.S. senator, D-Minn., talk about the young mother who has a couple of children, doesn't have sufficient training, and has tried her best, and the companies merge, and she loses her job, and the children get sick, and she is up against it; it is a very pitiful situation.

  Academic text (1995)

• For what we're up against, it's going to need a quick fix.

  A Simple Wish (1997)

• The reason I ask is we're kind of up against it.

  Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)

• I'm up against it, here.

  A Most Violent Year (2014)

• I'm sort of up against it.

  I'm No Angel (1933)

• I've been up against it recently with my videos.

• We'll be up against it if we can't get that dame to talk.

  Big Brown Eyes (1936)

• We're up against it.

  The Bedroom Window (1987)

• His budget constraints left him feeling up against it as he tried to complete the project on time.

Synonyms

U

up against

vsup against it

235 5.1

Facing a difficult problem you must deal with

focuses more on extreme pressure and limited time or resources

H

hard-pressed

vsup against it

33 6.0

Short of money or resources and finding things difficult

stresses urgent severe pressure often with little time as well

U

uphill battle

vsup against it

• Informal

25 6.6

A difficult task that needs a lot of effort to succeed

emphasizes urgent pressure and lack of resources rather than effort

I

in the face of adversity

vsup against it

5 5.7

To keep going when you face serious problems

stresses personal pressure and urgent lack of time or resources

F

to face a challenge

vsup against it

5 3.9

Deal with a difficult problem or situation

implies being under severe pressure with scarce time or resources

T

tough going

vsup against it

• Informal

4 5.3

A situation or task that is hard to do

focuses more on acute pressure and shortage of time or resources

B

behind the eight-ball

vsup against it

• Informal

3 9.6

In a difficult situation with little chance to make things better

describes more direct severe pressure and low time or resources

U

up the creek

vsup against it

• Informal

3 9.4

In a difficult situation with no easy way out

highlights intense pressure and scarce time or resources instead

H

hard time of it

vsup against it

2 6.1

A time when someone has many problems and finds life difficult

refers to sudden severe pressure with little time or scarce resources

H

to hit up against

vsup against it

6.8

Face unexpected problems or opposition while doing something

refers to constant or severe pressure with few resources or time

Antonyms

S

strong position

9 3.9

A situation that gives someone more power in talks or competition

How Difficult

desperate

704 3.3

up against it

• Informal

7 8.0

in trouble

∞ 2.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology