English Reference
Idiom idiom

pit against

Meaning

To set in opposition to someone or something else.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“The coach likes to pit the two best players against each other.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The new policy pits the sales team against the marketing department, causing a lot of unnecessary tension.”

COMPLEX

“History often pits the ideals of individual freedom against the demands of state security, creating a difficult balance for any government to maintain.”

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    money pit

    A possession or financial commitment, especially a building or vehicle, that creates substantial ongoing expenses, especially one whose costs are considered to be unsustainable.

Last updated August 10, 2026