come up against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come up against" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
It usually means to experience or be faced with something difficult (usually a challenge). For example: "The team came up against a lot of difficulties when they started their new business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I choose "picture" and come up against another brick wall.

Independent

"I'd come up against a brick wall," Mr. Gardiner said.

The New York Times - Arts

They come up against quality players and they can produce.

Independent

"I've come up against tougher things than this," she adds.

The New York Times

The picture sees Bryant come up against LeBron James.

Independent

No wonder, then, that Santa has come up against them.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama's proposal has come up against Republican opposition.

The New York Times

Other organizations have come up against similar walls.

The Washington Post

Lately... the cockfighters have come up against formidable opposition.

The New Yorker

I've always come up against walls and smashed through them.

The Guardian - Sport

It's something we've never come up against before.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "come up against" is generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from synonyms like "encounter" or "be faced with" for added professionalism.

Common error

Ensure that the tense of "come up against" is consistent with the surrounding text. For example, avoid mixing past and present tenses when describing a past event where someone "came up against" a problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come up against" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the experience of encountering difficulties, challenges, or opposition. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage and grammatical correctness. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come up against" is a very common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to describe encountering difficulties or opposition. Ludwig AI validates this with numerous examples across news, sports, and business contexts. While generally neutral in register, it is more suited for informal and general use than highly formal academic or scientific writing. When writing, ensure tense consistency and consider synonyms like "encounter" or "be faced with" for formal tones. The sources like The Guardian, Independent and BBC further confirm its prevalent use in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be faced with

This alternative emphasizes the passive experience of encountering a challenge.

encounter

This alternative is a single-word replacement implying a meeting with something, usually unexpected or challenging.

face

This alternative is a single-word replacement, suggesting a direct confrontation with a problem or opponent.

confront

This alternative suggests a more active and intentional facing of a challenge or adversary.

run into

This alternative implies a chance encounter with difficulties or opposition.

meet with

This alternative suggests an experience, often negative, that one encounters.

grapple with

This alternative suggests struggling or contending with a difficult issue or opponent.

contend with

This alternative means to struggle to surmount or overcome.

tackle

This alternative means to confront or deal with a problem or task.

deal with

This alternative is a more general term for handling or managing a difficult situation.

FAQs

How can I use "come up against" in a sentence?

You can use "come up against" to describe facing a challenge or obstacle, such as: "The company "came up against" several regulatory hurdles during its expansion."

What's a more formal alternative to "come up against"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "encounter" or "be faced with" as alternatives to "come up against".

Is it correct to say "come against" instead of "come up against"?

While "come against" might be understood, "come up against" is the idiomatic and widely accepted form. "Come against" can sound incomplete or unnatural.

What's the difference between "come up against" and "run into"?

"Come up against" suggests a more significant obstacle or challenge, whereas "run into" often implies a more casual or unexpected encounter with something.