meet against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meet against" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers. Example: "We will meet against the backdrop of recent events to discuss our strategy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

"People are struggling to make ends meet against a backdrop of wage freezes and rising utility bills.

Independent

Huppert said: "People are struggling to make ends meet against a backdrop of wage freezes and rising utility bills.

The Guardian - Money

The next month, she posted a personal best in the 200-meter breaststroke in the dual meet against the Australians.

The New York Times - Sports

She represented the United States in a dual meet against Australia in Sydney, but did not compete in the 2007 world championships in Melbourne.

The New York Times - Sports

The uproar continued in February 1941 when students learned that three black runners would be kept out of a track meet against Catholic University.

The New York Times - Sports

Track and field season usually consisted of one meet, against other Americans attending international schools in places like London or Germany.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Any decision would have to wait, Herman Van Rompuy said after chairing a meeting of EU leaders, who met against a backdrop of mounting concerns that Ireland may need more than the 35 billion euros ($49 billion) set aside under an EU/IMF bailout to prop up its banks.

Huffington Post

There are no dual meets against top programs like Iowa or Penn State.

The New York Times - Sports

They slowly piece together their shared lives as artists from the time they met, against the backdrop of an ever more market-driven, celebrity-obsessed contemporary art scene.

The New York Times - Arts

He hopes to establish six to eight track and field sites across the country where elite and developing athletes will be based and will compete as teams in dual meets against other sites.

The New York Times - Sports

What Coach Blanco and the kids soon realize is he needs them as much as they need him, and soon the training sequences and test meets against the rich schools commence.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey opposition or competition, use more precise alternatives like "compete against" or "face off against".

Common error

Avoid using "meet against" when you mean to describe a meeting happening in the context of challenging circumstances. Instead, rephrase to clarify the relationship, for example, "they met amid concerns..."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meet against" is not standard English and doesn't have a clear grammatical function. The available examples in Ludwig show varied and often questionable usages, indicating a lack of established grammatical role. Ludwig AI marks it as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "meet against" is grammatically incorrect and has limited valid usage. Ludwig AI suggests that it's not a standard expression and may confuse readers. While some examples can be found in news media and online content, more precise alternatives like "compete against", "face off against", or rephrasing to clarify the relationship, such as "met amid concerns", are highly recommended. Due to its questionable status, avoid using "meet against" in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compete against

Focuses on competition, highlighting the act of striving against another entity.

face off against

Emphasizes direct confrontation or opposition.

contend against

Suggests a struggle or effort against difficulties or opponents.

battle against

Highlights a conflict or fight against something.

play against

Specifically refers to playing a game or sport against an opponent.

struggle against

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in opposing something.

vie against

Suggests a competitive effort to achieve something, often in a business or political context.

be up against

Indicates facing a challenge or difficult situation.

be pitted against

Suggests a direct, often adversarial, comparison or contest.

measure oneself against

Focuses on comparing one's abilities or achievements to those of another.

FAQs

How can I use "meet against" correctly?

While "meet against" is not standard English, you can use alternatives like "compete against" or "face off against" depending on your intended meaning.

What's a better phrase than "meet against" to describe facing a challenge?

Consider using "be up against" to describe facing a challenge. For example, "They are up against a tough opponent".

Is "meet against" grammatically correct?

No, "meet against" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more precise alternatives.

What can I say instead of "meet against" when describing a sports competition?

Use alternatives such as "play against" or "compete against" when referring to a sports competition. For example, "The team will play against their rivals tomorrow".