up against

USAGE SUMMARY

"up against" is correct and usable in written English.
It is most commonly used as an idiom to mean "facing an opposition or challenge," or as a preposition to mean "in contact with; touching." Example sentence: We are up against a difficult opponent in the championship game.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Teixeira up against Benoit.

The New York Times

Up against Doctor Who.

Independent

She was up against it.

The New Yorker

Rub up against the furniture?

The New York Times - Books

Everyone stood up against Islamophobia.

The New Yorker

The ordinary shoves up against the monumental.

The New Yorker

"Obviously we are up against Sandoz.

The New York Times

I'm always working up against time.

The New York Times

Let's all rise up against it.

Independent

I'm up against a stacked house".

The New Yorker

Its everything I stand up against.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "up against" to indicate facing challenges, ensure the context clearly defines the nature of the challenge, whether it's an opponent, a difficult situation, or a deadline.

Common error

Avoid using "up against" solely to describe challenges if the context implies physical contact is also relevant. Use more precise language if physical proximity is not intended.

Linguistic Context

Primary function: "Up against" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It often describes a situation of opposition or challenge, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "We are up against Sandoz". It can also indicate physical contact, like "Rub up against the furniture".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "up against" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase with two main senses: facing a challenge or being in physical contact with something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. Its usage is very common, especially in News & Media, although present in formal business contexts as well. While acceptable in most contexts, consider alternatives like ""facing"" or "in contact with" for greater precision, depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

competing against

Directly indicates active rivalry or contest, sharing the competitive aspect of some uses of "up against".

contending with

Implies active struggle or competition, similar to facing difficult odds as suggested by "up against".

grappling with

Emphasizes the struggle and difficulty of dealing with a problem or opponent, akin to the challenging sense of "up against".

in opposition to

Indicates direct resistance or disagreement, differing from "up against" which can also imply physical contact or challenging circumstances.

confronting

Focuses on the act of facing a challenge or opponent directly, a more active form than simply being "up against" something.

opposing

Stresses conflicting ideas or interests, like "up against" but more direct in its confrontational nature.

facing

Highlights confrontation or challenge, similar to one sense of "up against" but lacks the sense of physical closeness.

challenging

Highlights the difficulty or demanding nature of a task or opponent, similar to being "up against" something tough.

in contact with

Emphasizes physical touching or adjacency, focusing on the spatial relationship rather than a competitive one.

abutting

Refers specifically to physical adjacency or bordering, unlike "up against" which has broader applications.

FAQs

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

You can use "up against" to mean facing a challenge, as in, "We are "up against" a tough deadline." Or to mean physically touching, as in, "The table was "up against" the wall."

What can I say instead of "up against" when referring to a challenge?

Alternatives to "up against" when referring to a challenge include "facing", "contending with", or "opposing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "up against" in formal writing?

Yes, "up against" is acceptable in formal writing, but consider whether a more precise or sophisticated alternative like "in opposition to" or "confronting" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "up against" and "versus"?

"Up against" implies a challenge or close proximity, while "versus" specifically indicates opposition in a competition or legal context. For example, "Our team is "up against" a strong opponent" versus "Smith "versus" Jones in court."