up against sth
phrasal verb.phrasal verb. to face a very difficult problem or a strong opponent.
phrasal verb. to be confronted with a significant obstacle, challenge, or opposition that requires considerable effort to overcome.
We are up against some very tough competition.
The small business is up against a massive corporation with a much larger marketing budget.
Environmental activists find themselves up against powerful industrial lobbies that possess significant political influence and financial resources.
- facing
- confronted by
- opposed by
- supported by
- favoured by
- Particles
- up against
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- be + up + against + object
usually used in the passive-style 'be up against' or 'find oneself up against'.
highlight that 'sth' (something) usually refers to an abstract challenge like 'the clock' or 'the law', or a physical opponent.
We are up against to the deadline.We are up against the deadline.the phrase 'up against' already functions as a prepositional unit; do not add 'to' before the object.
Last updated April 24, 2026