against

Related to against: against the grain, Against the sun, against the wind, Against All Odds

against (someone or something)

1. In opposition to or defiance of someone or something. This plan goes against my principles, so I cannot be a part of it. Are you willing to stand against such a powerful company in the courts?
2. In competition with someone or something. I'm up against a three-time state champion in the first bracket of the tournament.
3. To someone or something's detriment or disadvantage. I'm shocked that the judge ruled against us.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*against someone or something

 
1. in opposition to someone or something; in competition with someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; run ~; stand ~.) I am against everything you stand for. She ran against me in the election.
2. to the disadvantage of someone or something; in opposition to someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; go ~; run ~; turn ~.) When did the trial go against us?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See:
  • (one's) heart is set against (something)
  • (one, two, three) strikes against (someone or something)
  • (the) odds are against (something)
  • a black mark against (one)
  • a black mark against someone
  • a house divided against itself cannot stand
  • a race against time
  • a race against time/the clock
  • abut (up) against
  • abut against
  • advise (one) against
  • advise (one) against (something)
  • advise against
  • advise against (something)
  • advise against doing
  • against
  • against (one's) better judgment
  • against (one's) principles
  • against (one's) will
  • against (someone or something)
  • against all odds
  • against all the odds
  • against nature
  • against one's better judgment
  • against one's will
  • against the clock
  • against the collar
  • against the current
  • against the grain
  • against the grain, to go
  • against the law
  • against the odds
  • against the run of play
  • against the stream
  • against time
  • against will
  • against your better judgement
  • against your will
  • agitate against
  • appeal against
  • argue against
  • as against (something)
  • as against something
  • avenge (oneself) against (someone or something)
  • avenge (oneself) against (someone or something) for (something)
  • avenge (oneself) for (something)
  • back to the wall
  • balance (something) against (something else)
  • balance against
  • bang (one's) head against a brick wall
  • bang (one's) head against a wall
  • bang (something) against (something)
  • bang against
  • bang your head against a brick wall
  • bash (something) against (something)
  • bash against
  • battle against
  • be against
  • be against (someone or something)
  • be banging (one's) head against a brick wall
  • be banging your head against a brick wall
  • be banging, etc. your head against a brick wall
  • be dead set against (someone or something)
  • be dead set against something
  • be hitting (one's) head against a (brick) wall
  • be pushing at an open door
  • be set against (something)
  • be set against something/against doing something
  • be up against it
  • be/come up against a brick wall
  • be/go against the grain
  • bear a grudge (against someone)
  • beat (one's) head against a stone wall
  • beat (one's) head against a/the wall
  • beat against
  • beat against (someone or something)
  • beat head against the wall
  • beat one's head against the wall
  • beat one's head against the wall, to
  • bias against
  • bias against (someone or something)
  • biased against (someone or something)
  • break against
  • break against (something)
  • bring (someone or something) up against (someone or something)
  • bring a charge against
  • bring a charge against (someone)
  • brush against
  • brush against (someone or something)
  • build a case against (someone or something)
  • bump (up) against (someone or something)
  • bump against
  • bump into
  • butt (up) against (someone or something)
  • butt against
  • campaign against
  • campaign against (someone or something)
  • cards are stacked against
  • cast stones against the wind
  • caution (one) against (someone or something)
  • caution about
  • charge (something) against (something)
  • charge against
  • charge off
  • clamor against
  • clamor against (something)
  • clash against
  • clash against (someone or something)
  • combine (something) against (someone or something)
  • combine against
  • come out
  • come out against
  • come out against (someone or something)
  • come up against
  • come up against (something)
  • come up against a brick wall
  • compete against
  • compete against (someone or something)
  • conspire against (something or someone)
  • conspire with (someone) against (something or someone)
  • contend against
  • contend against (someone or something)
  • counsel (someone) against (something)
  • counsel against
  • count against
  • count against (one)
  • cover (someone or something) against (something)
  • cover against
  • crusade against
  • crusade against (someone or something)
  • crush (up) against (someone or something)
  • crush against
  • dash (something) against (something)
  • dash against
  • dead set against
  • dead set against (someone or something)
  • debit (something) against (someone or something)
  • debit against
  • decide against
  • decide against (someone or something)
  • declare war against
  • declare war against (someone or something)
  • declare war on
  • defend (someone or something) against (someone or something)
  • defend against
  • demonstrate against
  • demonstrate against (someone or something)
  • direct (something) against (someone or something)
  • direct against
  • discriminate against
  • discriminate against (someone or something)
  • divided against itself
  • draw against (an amount of money)
  • draw against an amount of money
  • fare against
  • fare against (someone or something)
  • fend against
  • fend against (something)
  • fight against
  • fight against (someone or something)
  • fight against time
  • file (something) against (someone)
  • file against
  • file charges against (one)
  • find against
  • find against (someone or something)
  • fortify (someone or something) against (something)
  • fortify (someone or something) against (something) with (something)
  • fulminate against
  • fulminate against (someone or something)
  • gain ground against (something)
  • gang up
  • gang up against (someone or something)
  • gather a case against (someone or something)
  • get revenge against (someone or something)
  • get up against
  • get up against (someone or something)
  • give (something) against (one)
  • go against
  • go against (someone or something)
  • go against the flow
  • go against the grain
  • go against the stream
  • go against the tide
  • go to bat against
  • go up against
  • go up against (someone or something)
  • go, swim, etc. with/against the stream/tide
  • graze against
  • graze against (someone or something)
  • guarantee (something) against (something) for (some length of time)
  • guarantee against
  • guarantee against (something)
  • guard against
  • guard against (someone or something)
  • harbor (something) against (someone or something)
  • harbor against
  • harbor ill will against (someone or something)
  • harden (one's) heart against (someone or something)
  • harden your heart against somebody/something
  • have (one's) back against the wall
  • have (one's) heart (dead) set against (something)
  • have (something) against (someone or something)
  • have a case (against someone or something)
  • have a grudge (against one)
  • have against
  • have heart set against
  • have something against
  • have the cards stacked against
  • have the cards stacked against (someone or something)
  • have the cards stacked up against (someone or something)
  • have the deck stacked against
  • have the deck stacked against (someone or something)
  • have two strikes against (one)
  • have your back to the wall
  • hedge against
  • hedge against (something)
  • hit against
  • hit against (someone or something)
  • hold (something) against (someone or something)
  • hold a grudge against (one)
  • hold against
  • hope against (all) hope
  • hope against hope
  • hope against hope, to
  • immunize against
  • immunize against (something)
  • indemnify (someone or something) against (something)
  • indemnify against
  • inform against (one)
  • inform against (someone)
  • inoculate against
  • inoculate against (something)
  • institute (something) against (someone or something)
  • institute against
  • insulate (someone or something) against (someone or something)
  • insulate against
  • insure against
  • insure against (something)
  • intrigue against (someone)
  • intrigue with (someone) against (someone)
  • inveigh against
  • inveigh against (someone or something)
  • it's ill striving against the stream
  • jar against
  • jar against (someone or something)
  • kick against
  • kick against (someone or something)
  • kick against the pricks
  • knock (one's) head against a (brick) wall
  • knock (one's) head against a/the wall
  • knock against
  • knock against (someone or something)
  • knock head against a brick wall
  • knock up against (someone or something)
  • lap against
  • lap against (something)
  • lash against
  • lash out against (someone or something)
  • launch (something) against (someone or something)
  • launch against
  • lay (someone or something) against (something)
  • lay a charge
  • lay against
  • lead (someone or something) against (someone or something else)
  • lead against
  • lean against
  • lean back against (someone or something)
  • legislate against
  • legislate against (something)
  • level (something) against (someone or something)
  • level a charge against
  • level a charge against (one)
  • lift (one's) hand against (someone)
  • lift/raise a hand against somebody
  • line up against
  • load the dice (against one)
  • load the dice against someone
  • lobby against
  • lobby against (someone or something)
  • lodge (something) against
  • lodge against
  • make (something) against (someone or something)
  • make against
  • make common cause against (someone or something)
  • make ground against (something)
  • march against
  • march against (someone or something)
  • match (someone or something) against (someone or something else)
  • match against
  • measure (someone or sth) (up) against (someone or sth else)
  • measure against
  • measure up against
  • militate against
  • more sinned against than sinner
  • more sinned against than sinning
  • mount against
  • mount against (someone or something)
  • murmur against
  • murmur against (someone or something)
  • mutiny against
  • mutiny against (someone or something)
  • nestle (up) against (someone or something)
  • nestle against
  • nurse a grudge (against one)
  • nuzzle up against
  • nuzzle up against (someone or something)
  • odds are against one
  • offend against
  • one's heart is set against
  • operate against
  • operate against (someone or something)
  • over against
  • pin (someone or something) against (someone or something)
  • pin against
  • pit (one's) wits against (someone or something)
  • pit (someone or something) against (someone or something else)
  • pit against
  • pit your wits against
  • pit your wits against someone
  • play (someone) off against (someone)
  • play against
  • play both ends against the middle
  • play both ends against the middle, to
  • play both sides against the middle
  • play each end against the other
  • play each side against the other
  • play off against
  • play one against another
  • play one end against the other
  • play one off against another/each other/the other
  • play one side against the other
  • plot against
  • plot against (something or someone)
  • poison (one) against (someone or something)
  • poison against
  • preach against
  • preach against (something)
  • prefer against
  • prefer charges against (one)
  • prejudice (one) against (someone or something)
  • prejudice against
  • preserve (someone or something) against (something)
  • preserve against
  • press against
  • press against (someone or something)
  • press charges
  • prevail against
  • prevail against (someone or something)
  • proceed against
  • proceed against (someone or something)
  • protect against
  • protect against (someone or something)
  • protest about
  • protest against (someone or something)
  • provide against
  • provide against (something)
  • push against
  • push up against
  • put (one) up against (someone)
  • put up against
  • race against
  • race against (someone or something)
  • race against the clock
  • race against time
  • rage against
  • rage against (someone or something)
  • rail against
  • rail against (someone or something)
  • raise (one's) hand against (someone)
  • raise a hand against
  • raise a hand against (one)
  • raise a/(one's) voice against (someone or something)
  • raise a/your voice against somebody/something
  • raise voice against
  • rant against
  • rant against (someone or something)
  • react against
  • react against (someone or something)
  • reason against
  • reason against (something)
  • rebel against
  • rebel against (someone or something)
  • rest against
  • rest against (someone or something)
  • retaliate against
  • retaliate against (someone or something)
  • revolt against
  • revolt against (someone or something)
  • rise against
  • rise against (someone or something)
  • rise up against (someone or something)
  • rub (up) against (someone or something)
  • rub against
  • rub up against (someone or something)
  • rule against
  • rule against (someone or something)
  • run (one's) head against a brick wall
  • run against
  • run against (someone or something)
  • run head against a brick wall
  • run one's head against (into) a brick/stone wall, to
  • run up against (someone or something)
  • run up against (something)
  • safeguard against
  • safeguard against (someone or something)
  • sail against
  • sail against the wind
  • say (something) against (someone or something)
  • say against
  • scheme against
  • scheme against (someone or something)
  • score against
  • score against (someone or something)
  • secure against
  • secure against (someone or something)
  • security against
  • security against (someone or something)
  • see (something) against (something else)
  • see against
  • seek revenge (against/on someone or something)
  • set (one's) face against (something)
  • set (one's) heart against (something)
  • set (one) against (someone or something)
  • set (someone, something, or oneself) up against (someone or something)
  • set (something) against (something)
  • set against
  • set heart against
  • set one's face against
  • set up against
  • set your face against
  • set your face against something
  • side against
  • side against (one)
  • sin against
  • sin against (someone or something)
  • slant against
  • slant against (someone or something)
  • slap against
  • slap against (someone or something)
  • snuggle (up) against (one)
  • snuggle against
  • speak against
  • speak against (someone or something)
  • square up against (someone or something)
  • squash up against
  • squash up against (someone or something)
  • squeeze up against
  • squeeze up against (someone or something)
  • stack (something) against (someone or something)
  • stack against
  • stack the cards (against someone or something)
  • stack the deck (against) (someone or something)
  • stack the odds against (someone or something)
  • stack up against, to
  • stand against
  • stand against (someone or something)
  • stand out against (something)
  • stand up against
  • stand up against (someone or something)
  • steel (one's) heart against (someone or something)
  • steel (someone or oneself) against (someone or something)
  • steel against
  • steel one's heart against
  • stick out against
  • stick out against (something)
  • strike a blow against (something)
  • strike a blow for (something)
  • strike a blow for/against/at something
  • strive against
  • strive against (something)
  • struggle against
  • struggle against (someone or something)
  • stub (one's) toe against (something)
  • stub toe against
  • stumble against (something)
  • swear (something) out against (one)
  • swear out (something) against (one)
  • swear out against
  • swim against the current
  • swim against the stream
  • swim against the tide
  • take (something) out against (one)
  • take a firm line (on or against something)
  • take a firm stand (on or against something)
  • take a stand against (someone or something)
  • take action against
  • take action against (someone or something)
  • take against (one)
  • take out (something) against (one)
  • take revenge
  • take revenge (against/on someone or something)
  • take revenge against (someone or something) for (something)
  • take sides against
  • take sides against (someone or something)
  • take up (the) cudgels against (someone or something)
  • take up arms (against someone or something)
  • tell against
  • tell against (someone or something)
  • testify against
  • testify against (someone or something)
  • the cards are stacked against (someone or something)
  • the cards/odds are stacked against somebody/something
  • the dice are loaded against (one)
  • the dice are loaded against somebody
  • the dice is loaded against someone
  • the odds are against (someone or something)
  • the odds are against something/somebody doing something
  • the odds are stacked against (someone or something)
  • there's no law against (something)
  • there's no law against it
  • there's no law against something
  • three strikes against someone
  • throw straws against the wind
  • thrust against
  • thud against
  • transgress against
  • turn against
  • turn against (someone or something)
  • two strikes against
  • two strikes against someone/something, to have
  • unite against
  • unite against (someone or something)
  • unleash against
  • up against
  • up against (something)
  • up against a brick wall
  • up against it
  • up against it/the wall
  • up against the wall
  • vaccinate (someone or something) against (something
  • vaccinate against
  • vote against
  • wage against
  • war against
  • warn (one) against (something)
  • warn against
  • weigh against
  • weight (something) against (someone or something)
  • weight against
  • with (one's) back against the wall
  • won't hear a word against (someone or something)
  • work against
  • work against (someone or something)
  • work against the clock
  • write against
References in classic literature
"The treasurer was of the same opinion: he showed to what straits his majesty's revenue was reduced, by the charge of maintaining you, which would soon grow insupportable; that the secretary's expedient of putting out your eyes, was so far from being a remedy against this evil, that it would probably increase it, as is manifest from the common practice of blinding some kind of fowls, after which they fed the faster, and grew sooner fat; that his sacred majesty and the council, who are your judges, were, in their own consciences, fully convinced of your guilt, which was a sufficient argument to condemn you to death, without the formal proofs required by the strict letter of the law.
"But his imperial majesty, fully determined against capital punishment, was graciously pleased to say, that since the council thought the loss of your eyes too easy a censure, some other way may be inflicted hereafter.
It was strictly enjoined, that the project of starving you by degrees should be kept a secret; but the sentence of putting out your eyes was entered on the books; none dissenting, except Bolgolam the admiral, who, being a creature of the empress, was perpetually instigated by her majesty to insist upon your death, she having borne perpetual malice against you, on account of that infamous and illegal method you took to extinguish the fire in her apartment.
But having in my life perused many state-trials, which I ever observed to terminate as the judges thought fit to direct, I durst not rely on so dangerous a decision, in so critical a juncture, and against such powerful enemies.
Gullivers Travels
The Socialist and Communist literature of France, a literature that originated under the pressure of a bourgeoisie in power, and that was the expression of the struggle against this power, was introduced into Germany at a time when the bourgeoisie, in that country, had just begun its contest with feudal absolutism.
The fight of the German, and especially, of the Prussian bourgeoisie, against feudal aristocracy and absolute monarchy, in other words, the liberal movement, became more earnest.
By this, the long wished-for opportunity was offered to "True" Socialism of confronting the political movement with the Socialist demands, of hurling the traditional anathemas against liberalism, against representative government, against bourgeois competition, bourgeois freedom of the press, bourgeois legislation, bourgeois liberty and equality, and of preaching to the masses that they had nothing to gain, and everything to lose, by this bourgeois movement.
To the absolute governments, with their following of parsons, professors, country squires and officials, it served as a welcome scarecrow against the threatening bourgeoisie.
Communist Manifesto
At his right, against the wall, leaned several swords and rifles and spears--extra weapons which the warriors had stacked here ready to their hands should there be a night alarm calling them suddenly from slumber.
Now one stumbled against the corpse of him whom Carthoris had slain.
Even in the hands of the giant green men bridle reins would be hopelessly futile against the mad savagery and mastodonic strength of the thoat, and so they are guided by that strange telepathic power with which the men of Mars have learned to communicate in a crude way with the lower orders of their planet.
The high wall surrounding the fields served as a protection against surprise by raiding green hordes, as well as keeping the savage banths and other carnivora from the domestic animals and the human beings upon the farms.
They sell their services wherever war exists, and in the occasional brief intervals when there is no organized warfare between the red nations, they join one of the numerous expeditions that are constantly being dispatched against the green men in protection of the waterways that traverse the wilder portions of the globe.
Thuvia Maid of Mars
(Borodino) and cross by its three bridges, advancing to the same heights as Morand's and Gdrard's divisions (for whose movements no directions are given), which under his leadership will be directed against the redoubt and come into line with the rest of the forces.
War and Peace
A victorious army opposed to a routed one, is as a pound's weight placed in the scale against a single grain.
Art of War