run counter to

run counter to (someone or something)

To oppose, contravene, or work against someone or something. The former CEO's actions run counter to everything this company stands for. The governor's newest policy seems to be running counter to everything he promised during his election campaign.
See also: counter, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

run counter to something

to be in opposition to something; to run against something. (This has nothing to do with running.) Your proposal runs counter to what is required by the manager. His idea runs counter to good sense.
See also: counter, run
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

run counter to

Be in conflict with, oppose, as in Practice often runs counter to theory. This idiom, first recorded in 1843, uses counter in the sense of "in an opposite direction."
See also: counter, run
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

run counter to

be or develop in conflict with.
See also: counter, run
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • run counter to (someone or something)
  • counter with
  • counter with (something)
  • lift
  • blow the lid off
  • blow the lid off (something)
  • blow the lid off something
  • come under fire
  • be/come under fire
  • gather into
References in periodicals archive
'That is why one of my reasons why I do not like itong [this] creeping influence of faith that sometimes run counter to what government believes to be good for the people, at least in this temporal life,' Duterte said.
President Hassan Rouhani said the United States' fresh sanctions run counter to the Geneva deal between Tehran and the six world powers, warning that Washington's continued hostile moves have made Iranians distrustful of the US.
The reason, according to the official, is that the duties would run counter to provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
If the report is officially confirmed, it will run counter to an initial evaluation late last year that found the 33-year-old right-wing extremist criminally insane and will thus relaunch the debate on whether or not he can be sentenced to prison for the twin attacks.
The EU also calls upon both sides to avoid steps that run counter to the Quartet's efforts to restart negotiations.
Ashton statement said that the actions of the Israeli government has ignored urgent calls by the international community, and has also run counter to achieving a peaceful solution that will preserve ISrael's security and realize the Palestinians' righ to statehood.
Summary: Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Sunday the actions of the United States run counter to its call for establishing amicable relations with Tehran.
Summary: Rabat - Moroccan authorities have recently expelled foreigners, from different nationalities, who have committed acts that run counter to laws in force, the Interior Ministry said.
Mackey's views run counter to the company's liberal and organic image; customers have responded by organizing boycotts and protests of the chain.
These disease outbreaks run counter to the Animal Health Strategy 2007-2013.
Financial professionals are not always faced with optimal facts, and are challenged with how to best position a client in light of decisions that run counter to their counsel.
Some travelers say the TSA's security rules run counter to common sense, The Wall Street Journal's Scott McCartney writes.
A complete understanding, though, is intentionally obstructed and would in any case run counter to the meditation on structures of knowledge that the work provokes.
He attacked the court for restricting the teaching of religious dogma in public schools and said such decisions run counter to American history.
These findings run counter to earlier reports, most out of Europe, that echinacea revs up an immune response against cold viruses (SN: 3/27/99, p.