against
Used to say that someone does not agree with or wants to stop something.
Used to show that someone or something is opposed to another person, group, or idea.
Used to say something is touching or leaning on another thing.
Used to indicate that something is in contact with another surface or object for support or rest.
Used to say something looks different because of what is behind it or next to it.
Used to show that something is seen clearly because it is in front of a different background or compared with something else.
Used to say something is done to stop bad things from happening.
Used to indicate that something is done to protect from, prevent, or prepare for a possible danger, problem, or loss.
- Base: against
- Plural: againsts
pitch someone/something against someone/something
1make compete directly
To make two people or groups fight or compete with each other.
- The tournament will pitch the best players against each other.
- The debate pitched two strong candidates against one another.
stand up against
1actively resist opposition
To fight or speak out to stop someone or something that is wrong or unfair.
- We must stand up against injustice.
- She stood up against the bully at school.
up against it
1facing serious difficulty
To be in a difficult situation with many problems and little chance of success.
- With no money and no job, he was really up against it.
- We're up against it with this deadline looming.
go against the grain
1do something unnatural or uncomfortable
To do something that feels wrong, strange, or very different from what a person usually does or believes, or from what most people do.
- It goes against the grain for me to lie to anyone.
- It goes against the grain for her to lie, even to protect a friend.
- Helping them might go against the grain, but it's the right thing to do.
- Cutting jobs goes against the grain of everything the company stands for.
- Wasting food really goes against the grain in this household.