against
♦♦♦ against /əg'enst, əg'eɪnst/
In addition to the uses shown below, against is used in phrasal verbs such as `come up against', `guard against', and `hold against'.
1 [PREP]
If one thing is leaning or pressing against another, it is touching it.
She leaned against him...
On a table pushed against a wall there were bottles of beer and wine.
...the rain beating against the window panes.
2 [PREP]
If you are against something such as a plan, policy, or system, you think it is wrong, bad, or stupid.
Taxes are unpopular-it is understandable that voters are against them...
Joan was very much against commencing drug treatment.
...a march to protest against job losses.
[ADV] ADV after v
Against is also an adverb.
The vote for the suspension of the party was 283 in favour with 29 against.
3 [PREP]
If you compete against someone in a game, you try to beat them.
The tour will include games against the Australian Barbarians...
4 [PREP]
If you take action against someone or something, you try to harm them.
Security forces are still using violence against opponents of the government.
5 [PREP]
If you take action against a possible future event, you try to prevent it.
...the fight against crime...
I must warn you against raising your hopes.
6 [PREP]
If you do something against someone's wishes, advice, or orders, you do not do what they want you to do or tell you to do.
He discharged himself from hospital against the advice of doctors.
7 [PREP]
If you do something in order to protect yourself against something unpleasant or harmful, you do something which will make its effects on you less serious if it happens.
A business needs insurance against risks such as fire and flood...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you have something against someone or something, you dislike them.
Have you got something against women, Les?...
9 [PREP]
If something is against the law or against the rules, there is a law or a rule which says that you must not do it.
It is against the law to detain you against your will for any length of time...
10 [PREP]
If you are moving against a current, tide, or wind, you are moving in the opposite direction to it.
...swimming upstream against the current...
≠ with
11 [PREP]
If something happens or is considered against a particular background of events, it is considered in relation to those events, because those events are relevant to it.
The profits rise was achieved against a backdrop of falling metal prices.
12 [PREP]
If something is measured or valued against something else, it is measured or valued by comparing it with the other thing.
Our policy has to be judged against a clear test: will it improve the standard of education?...
The US dollar is down against most foreign currencies today.
13 [PHRASE]
If you discuss a particular set of facts or figures as against another set, you are comparing or contrasting the two sets of facts or figures.
Over 50% of divorced men regretted their divorce, as against 25% of women.
14 [PREP] n PREP
The odds against something happening are the chances or odds that it will not happen.
The odds against him surviving are incredible.
[ADV] n ADV
Against is also an adverb.
What were the odds against?
15
up against: see up
against the clock: see clockbrief against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If someone, especially a politician, briefs against another person, he or she tries to harm the other person's reputation by saying something unfavourable about them. (BRIT)
Ministerial colleagues were briefing against him.count against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something counts against you, it may cause you to be rejected or punished, or cause people to have a lower opinion of you.
He is highly regarded, but his youth might count against him.go against
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If a person or their behaviour goes against your wishes, beliefs, or expectations, their behaviour is the opposite of what you want, believe in, or expect.
Changes are being made here which go against my principles and I cannot agree with them.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If a decision, vote, or result goes against you, you do not get the decision, vote, or result that you wanted.
The prime minister will resign if the vote goes against him...guard against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you guard against something, you are careful to prevent it from happening, or to avoid being affected by it.
The armed forces were on high alert to guard against any retaliation.hold against
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P n
If you hold something against someone, you let their actions in the past influence your present attitude towards them and cause you to deal severely or unfairly with them.
Bernstein lost the case, but never held it against Grundy.set against
1 [PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P n, also V n P n
If one argument or fact is set against another, it is considered in relation to it.
These are relatively small points when set against her expertise on so many other issues...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P n
To set one person against another means to cause them to become enemies or rivals.
The case has set neighbour against neighbour in the village.turn against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V n P n
If you turn against someone or something, or if you are turned against them, you stop supporting them, trusting them, or liking them.
A kid I used to be friends with turned against me after being told that I'd been insulting him...
Working with the police has turned me against the use of violent scenes as entertainment.
In addition to the uses shown below, against is used in phrasal verbs such as `come up against', `guard against', and `hold against'.
1 [PREP]
If one thing is leaning or pressing against another, it is touching it.
She leaned against him...
On a table pushed against a wall there were bottles of beer and wine.
...the rain beating against the window panes.
2 [PREP]
If you are against something such as a plan, policy, or system, you think it is wrong, bad, or stupid.
Taxes are unpopular-it is understandable that voters are against them...
Joan was very much against commencing drug treatment.
...a march to protest against job losses.
[ADV] ADV after v
Against is also an adverb.
The vote for the suspension of the party was 283 in favour with 29 against.
3 [PREP]
If you compete against someone in a game, you try to beat them.
The tour will include games against the Australian Barbarians...
4 [PREP]
If you take action against someone or something, you try to harm them.
Security forces are still using violence against opponents of the government.
5 [PREP]
If you take action against a possible future event, you try to prevent it.
...the fight against crime...
I must warn you against raising your hopes.
6 [PREP]
If you do something against someone's wishes, advice, or orders, you do not do what they want you to do or tell you to do.
He discharged himself from hospital against the advice of doctors.
7 [PREP]
If you do something in order to protect yourself against something unpleasant or harmful, you do something which will make its effects on you less serious if it happens.
A business needs insurance against risks such as fire and flood...
8 [PHRASE] V inflects, PHR n
If you have something against someone or something, you dislike them.
Have you got something against women, Les?...
9 [PREP]
If something is against the law or against the rules, there is a law or a rule which says that you must not do it.
It is against the law to detain you against your will for any length of time...
10 [PREP]
If you are moving against a current, tide, or wind, you are moving in the opposite direction to it.
...swimming upstream against the current...
≠ with
11 [PREP]
If something happens or is considered against a particular background of events, it is considered in relation to those events, because those events are relevant to it.
The profits rise was achieved against a backdrop of falling metal prices.
12 [PREP]
If something is measured or valued against something else, it is measured or valued by comparing it with the other thing.
Our policy has to be judged against a clear test: will it improve the standard of education?...
The US dollar is down against most foreign currencies today.
13 [PHRASE]
If you discuss a particular set of facts or figures as against another set, you are comparing or contrasting the two sets of facts or figures.
Over 50% of divorced men regretted their divorce, as against 25% of women.
14 [PREP] n PREP
The odds against something happening are the chances or odds that it will not happen.
The odds against him surviving are incredible.
[ADV] n ADV
Against is also an adverb.
What were the odds against?
15
up against: see up
against the clock: see clockbrief against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If someone, especially a politician, briefs against another person, he or she tries to harm the other person's reputation by saying something unfavourable about them. (BRIT)
Ministerial colleagues were briefing against him.count against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something counts against you, it may cause you to be rejected or punished, or cause people to have a lower opinion of you.
He is highly regarded, but his youth might count against him.go against
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If a person or their behaviour goes against your wishes, beliefs, or expectations, their behaviour is the opposite of what you want, believe in, or expect.
Changes are being made here which go against my principles and I cannot agree with them.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If a decision, vote, or result goes against you, you do not get the decision, vote, or result that you wanted.
The prime minister will resign if the vote goes against him...guard against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you guard against something, you are careful to prevent it from happening, or to avoid being affected by it.
The armed forces were on high alert to guard against any retaliation.hold against
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P n
If you hold something against someone, you let their actions in the past influence your present attitude towards them and cause you to deal severely or unfairly with them.
Bernstein lost the case, but never held it against Grundy.set against
1 [PHRASAL VERB] be V-ed P n, also V n P n
If one argument or fact is set against another, it is considered in relation to it.
These are relatively small points when set against her expertise on so many other issues...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P n
To set one person against another means to cause them to become enemies or rivals.
The case has set neighbour against neighbour in the village.turn against
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n, V n P n
If you turn against someone or something, or if you are turned against them, you stop supporting them, trusting them, or liking them.
A kid I used to be friends with turned against me after being told that I'd been insulting him...
Working with the police has turned me against the use of violent scenes as entertainment.