go up against

USAGE SUMMARY

"go up against" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about competing against someone or something, or facing an obstacle, challenge or difficulty. Example: We have to go up against some of the best teams in the conference.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Greece go up against Malaysia.

The Guardian - Sport

We want to go up against the giants, yes.

The New York Times - Sports

The opening match saw Rollins go up against RVD.

Independent

Any new barriers will also go up against us.

The Economist

You go up against him and come out on top.

The New York Times - Sports

I wouldn't want to go up against them at Jeopardy".

The Guardian

"I'd rather go up against Johnny Vaughan than Chris Tarrant.

The Guardian

You always lose when you go up against money.

The Guardian

"Nothing can go up against Chanel," she said.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They need someone to go up against him".

The New York Times

No other studio dared go up against this Disney behemoth.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "go up against" when you want to emphasize a direct confrontation or competition with a specific opponent or challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "go up against" in highly formal or academic writing where more sophisticated vocabulary might be expected. Consider using alternatives like "compete against" or "challenge" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go up against" functions as a phrasal verb. It's used to express the action of competing, opposing, or confronting someone or something directly. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, providing numerous real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "go up against" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe competing with, opposing, or confronting someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, and Ludwig provides many examples from News & Media and Sports. While generally neutral in register, it is best suited for general conversation and news rather than highly formal academic writing. Consider alternatives such as "compete against" or "challenge" in more formal contexts. Overall, "go up against" is a useful and widely understood expression for describing direct confrontation or competition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compete against

Focuses specifically on the act of competing in a structured environment.

face off against

Emphasizes a direct confrontation or encounter with an opponent.

take on

Implies accepting a challenge or responsibility, including facing an opponent.

challenge

Highlights the act of questioning or defying someone's authority or position.

contend with

Suggests dealing with difficulties or obstacles, often in a competitive manner.

oppose

Indicates resistance or disagreement with someone or something.

confront

Stresses a direct and often aggressive encounter.

battle

Emphasizes a struggle or fight, whether literal or figurative.

vie with

Focuses on striving for superiority or victory against others.

stand up to

Implies resisting or defending oneself against a stronger or more powerful force.

FAQs

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

You can use "go up against" to describe facing a competitor or a difficult challenge. For example, "Our team will "go up against" the reigning champions next week".

What are some alternatives to "go up against"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "compete against", "face off against", or "take on" as alternatives to "go up against".

Is "go up against" appropriate for formal writing?

While "go up against" is widely understood, it may be considered too informal for highly formal or academic writing. In such cases, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "challenge" or "contend with".

What does it mean to "go up against" someone?

To ""go up against"" someone means to compete, oppose, or confront them directly, often in a challenging situation or competition.