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]

Related Words

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