line up against

line up against

1. To stand facing someone or something in a row in opposition. The football team lined up against its opponents, eager for the ref to blow the whistle. The two rival gangs lined up against each other, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
2. To stand or organize in solidarity against a person, group, or organization. The traditionally hostile political factions are joining together to line up against the terrorist group.
3. To organize people in solidarity against a person, group, or organization. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used before or after "up." The controversial senator has been whipping people into a frenzy with his political rhetoric, lining up voters from around the state against his opponents. Instead of lining teachers and parents up against one another, we should be trying to find solutions that involve and hold accountable both sides.
4. To stand in a row against some surface, especially a wall. OK, children, line up against the wall in alphabetical order. The actors lined up against the back of the stage and then stepped forward to take a bow.
5. To cause a group of people or things to form or get into a row against some surface, especially a wall. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used before or after "up." The coach lined us up against the back of the court and made us do sprints. Line up these boxes against the wall over there so we can sort through them later.
See also: line, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

line someone or something up against something

to put people or things into a row in front of or against something. We lined everyone up against the wall for the photograph. Please line up everyone against the wall.
See also: line, up

line up against someone or something

to organize against someone or something. Our people lined up against the candidate and defeated her soundly. We will line up against the opposing party as we did during the last election.
See also: line, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • line up for
  • line up for (something)
  • line up with
  • line up behind
  • come to blows about (something)
  • in a row
  • draw apart
  • (please) don't get up
  • shades of
  • shades of someone/something
References in periodicals archive
ALTHOUGH they may not line up directly line up against each other, Betsen and Charvis will be their side's main influence and disruption at the crucial breakdown area.
The Key Battles