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Glite Dictionary
to hit up against

to hit up against

6.8
Face unexpected problems or opposition while doing something
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : encontrar dificultades
  • As I researched the topic, I hit up against numerous obstacles that made it difficult to find reliable information.

Examples

  • But the C.O. post is talking about how to avoid hitting up against that law about occupying the same space at the same time, by being aware of the danger and not putting yourself there.

    Blog text (11)

  • - Women directors are hitting up against this ceiling at a point, at a critical point where they could jump from smaller stuff to really big stuff.

    This Changes Everything (2019)

  • But she's very interested in what happens when the imagination hits up against that wall.

  • While working on the project, she hit up against several unexpected challenges that delayed the timeline.

  • During the debate preparation, the team hit up against strong opposition from the opposing side.

Synonyms

to run into
vsto hit up against
274 2.6

Experience a problem or difficulty unexpectedly

is broader, happening during an activity and not only as sudden encounters
to hit a bump
vsto hit up against
3 5.8

Face a problem that slows progress or makes things harder

is broader, covering facing opposition or obstacles beyond minor slowdowns

Antonyms

to avoid
∞ 1.0

To stay away from something or not do it to stop something bad from happening

to overcome
429 2.9

Deal with and defeat a problem or fear

How Difficult

to block
∞ 3.0
to hit up against
6.8
to encounter
442 3.2

Surface Forms

hit up against infinitive
hit up against past
hit up against past participle
hitting up against present participle
hits up against third person singular

Morphology

hit + up + against

The literal idea of 'hit' + 'against' (to strike or run into something opposite) maps reasonably well onto 'encountering obstacles' and 'against' signals opposition, so a learner who knows the parts can often infer the metaphorical sense. However, the particle 'up' and the shift from physical collision to abstract difficulties is a figurative extension that is not fully predictable without exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Hit up against may come from a simple image: imagine moving forward and your hand or a cart hits and presses up against a wall or obstacle, so you suddenly stop. So, hit up against now means 'to meet' or 'face' a problem or opposition that stops or slows you.