English

Preposition

up against

1. (idiomatic) Facing; challenging, or opposing.

   If you try to change the school schedule like that, you'll be up against legions of angry parents.

2. In contact with, abutting.

   If the tree grows up against the garden wall then either the tree will be crowded and stunted or the wall will be pushed out.

Derived terms

• be up against
• go up against
• rub up against
• run up against
• stand up against
• up against the wall
• up against it