going up against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going up against" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a confrontation or competition between two parties, often in a challenging context. Example: "The team is going up against their biggest rivals in the championship game this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Going up against Mr. Rove, Mr. Cleland said, "is like going up against the devil himself".

The New York Times

"I like going up against the best," Rolle said.

The New York Times - Sports

Going up against them head-on would be stupid.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Going up against "Kingpin" on Sunday nights on ABC is the new incarnation of "Dragnet".

The New Yorker

Going up against the big guys is insanely tough.

TechCrunch

Going Up Against Science and Religion.

Huffington Post

"We're going up against England.

The Guardian - Sport

We've been going up against good teams.

The New York Times

"Who are we going up against?

The New York Times

"We know what we're going up against.

The New York Times - Sports

"You know you're going up against Lee," Gee said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "going up against" when you want to emphasize the competitive or confrontational aspect of a situation. It's suitable for describing sports matches, business rivalries, or political contests.

Common error

Avoid using "going up against" in highly formal or academic writing where more sophisticated alternatives like "opposing" or "competing with" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going up against" functions as a prepositional phrase, often acting as a verb complement or adverbial modifier. It describes the action of confronting or competing with someone or something, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "going up against" is a commonly used prepositional phrase to denote confrontation or competition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While generally neutral, it leans towards informal and is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the level of formality required and opt for alternatives like "competing with" or "opposing" in more formal settings. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate its versatility in describing various competitive scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

facing off against

Suggests a direct confrontation or a head-to-head encounter.

taking on

Implies accepting a challenge or responsibility, often involving a difficult task or opponent.

competing with

Indicates participation in the same contest or market, focusing on the act of striving for success.

confronting

Indicates a direct encounter with a problem or opponent, often with a problem.

contending with

Implies struggling against difficulties or rivals, often in a sustained effort.

battling

Conveys a sense of intense conflict or struggle against an adversary.

challenging

Emphasizes the act of questioning or daring to contend with something or someone.

opposing

Highlights direct resistance or antagonism to a person or idea.

tackling

Focuses on addressing or dealing with a problem or opponent directly and resolutely.

dueling with

Suggests a competitive situation akin to a duel, often implying a formal or structured contest.

FAQs

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

You can use "going up against" to describe facing an opponent, challenge, or competitor. For example, "The team is "going up against" their toughest rival this Friday."

What can I say instead of "going up against"?

You can use alternatives like "competing with", "challenging", or "facing off against" depending on the specific context.

Is "going up against" suitable for formal writing?

While "going up against" is widely understood, it may be more appropriate to use alternatives like "opposing" or "contending with" in formal or academic writing.

What's the difference between "going up against" and "competing with"?

"Going up against" often emphasizes the act of confronting a challenge or opponent directly, while "competing with" focuses on the participation in a shared contest or market, highlighting the striving for success.