Definition of the word against

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• againest (obsolete), agaynest (obsolete), agaynst (obsolete)
• ageinest (obsolete, rare), ageinst (obsolete), agenest (obsolete), agenst (obsolete), ageynest (obsolete, rare), ageynst (obsolete), agin (colloquial or humorous)
• ‘gainst, gainst (poetic)

Etymology[edit]

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est. Surface analysis again +‎ -st (excrescent ending).

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /əˈɡɛ(ɪ)nst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈɡɛnst/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /əˈɡeɪnst/
• Rhymes: -ɛnst, -ɛɪnst, -eɪnst
• Hyphenation: a‧gainst

Preposition[edit]

against

1. In a contrary direction to.

   It is hard work to swim against the current.

2. In physical opposition to; in collision with.

   The rain pounds against the window.

   • 1922, Michael Arlen, “3/19/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:

     Ivor had acquired more than a mile of fishing rights with the house ; he was not at all a good fisherman, but one must do something ; one generally, however, banged a ball with a squash-racket against a wall.

3. In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.

   The ladder was leaning against the wall.

   The puppy rested its head against a paw.

   The kennel was put against the back wall.

4. Close to, alongside.

   A row of trees stood against a fence.

   • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

     We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine. […] As we reached the lodge we heard the whistle, and we backed up against one side of the platform as the train pulled up at the other.

5. In front of; before (a background).

   The giant was silhouetted against the door.

6. In contrast or comparison with.

   He stands out against his classmates.

   This report sets out the risks against the benefits.

7. In competition with, versus.

   The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.

   • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

     “[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”

   • 2011 September 24, Aled Williams, “Chelsea 4-1 Swansea”, in BBC Sport:

     The breakthrough came through Torres who, pilloried for his miss against Manchester United a week earlier, scored his second goal of the season.

8. Contrary to; in conflict with.

   Doing this is against my principles.

   It is against the law to smoke on these premises.

   There was no car in sight so we crossed against the red light.

9. In opposition to.

   Antonym: for

   Are you against freedom of choice?

   He waged a ten-year campaign against the company that was polluting the river.

   I’d bet against his succeeding.

   (with implied object) Ten voted for, and three voted against.

   • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

     Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.

   • 2013 May-June, David Van Tassel, Lee DeHaan, “Wild Plants to the Rescue”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:

     Plant breeding is always a numbers game. […] The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, […]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe.

10. Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.

    Antonym: on

    That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.

11. In exchange for.

    The vouchers are redeemable against West End shows and theatre breaks.

12. As counterbalance to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
13. As a charge on.

    Tax is levied against income from sales.

14. As protection from.

    He turned the umbrella against the wind.

    • 1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed [by Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 2, member 6, subsection iv, page 298:

      Beautie alone is a ſoveraigne remedy againſt feare,griefe,and all melancholy fits; a charm,as Peter de la Seine and many other writers affirme,a banquet it ſelfe;he gives inſtance in diſcontented Menelaus that was ſo often freed by Helenas faire face: and ^hTully, 3 Tusc. cites Epicurus as a chiefe patron of this Tenent.

    • 1988 March 1, Caroni, Pico; Schwab, Martin E., “Antibody against myelin associated inhibitor of neurite growth neutralizes nonpermissive substrate properties of CNS white matter”, in Neuron‎^[1], →DOI, page 85:

      Monoclonal antibodies were raised against these proteins: IN-1 and IN-2 bound both to the 35 kd and 250 kd inhibitors and to the surface of differentiated cultured oligodendrocytes.

15. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).

    The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.

    • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 11, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

      He wrote to a friend of his, that he lived but with browne bread and water, and entreated him to send him a piece of cheese, against [translating pour] the time he was to make a solemne feast.

    • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:

      «And now leave me, I pray thee, and thou too, my own Kallikrates, for I would get me ready against our journey, and so must ye both, and your servant also.»

    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 18:

      Of the two fried chops served him for breakfast he ate one and gave Edmund the other, and put a buttered sandwich of bread in his pocket against the accidents of travel.

    • 2003, Rodger J. Bille, A Few of the Chosen: Survivors of Terrorism, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 8:

      Rod, who always distrusted such methods, was forced to accept the new way but had begun to stash away large amounts of cash against the day that the system might be sabotaged or failed entirely.

16. (Hollywood) To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.

    The studio weren’t sure the movie would ever get made, so they only paid $50,000 against $200,000. That way they wouldn’t be out very much if filming never began.

    • 2011, Charles Foran, Mordecai: The Life & Times‎^[2]:

      “Hollywood noises” yielded an early $35,000 option against $100,000 if the movie was made.

17. (obsolete) Exposed to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Synonyms[edit]

• (in competition with): versus

Antonyms[edit]

• with

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Conjunction[edit]

against

1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 6:

     He now gave Mrs Deborah positive orders to take the child to her own bed, and to call up a maid-servant to provide it pap, and other things, against it waked.

Translations[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

• Gaitans, antigas, antisag

Scots[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes (“in opposition to”), a southern variant of agen.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /əˈɡenst/, /əˈɡɛnst/

Preposition[edit]

against

1. towards, near (of time)

References[edit]

• “against, prep.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.

against əˈɡenst указывает на: противодействие чему-л или несогласие с чем-л: против to fight against smb., smth. ― бороться против кого-л, чего-л to warn against smth. ― предостерегать против чего-л to vote against smb., smth. ― голосовать против кого-л, чего-л twenty votes against ten ― двадцать голосов против десяти are you for or against the plan? ― вы поддерживаете этот план или нет? I have nothing to say against it ― мне нечего возразить против этого вопреки I have trusted you against everything ― я верила вам несмотря ни на что against reason ― вопреки разуму to hope against hope ― надеяться вопреки всему; не терять надежды в безнадежном положении движение в противоположную сторону: против to sail against the wind ― плыть против ветра against the clock ― против часовой стрелки against the sun ― в сторону, противоположную движению солнца, с запада на восток against the hair ― тех. против волокна; против шерсти; не по вкусу, не по душе нахождение на противоположной стороне: против over against ― напротив, на противоположной стороне over against the school ― прямо против школы местоположение около чего-л, рядом с чем-л.: у a piano stood against the wall ― у стены стояло пианони the house was built against a hill ― дом был построен у самого холма соприкоснование или столкновение с чем-л.: по, о, к the rain was beating against the window ― дождь барабанил по стеклу to throw a ball against the wall ― ударять мячом о стенку to bump against smth. ― удариться обо что-л he struck his foot against a stone ― он ушиб ногу о камень опору: к, на he leaned against a post ― он прислонился к столбу she was sitting up in bed propped against pillows ― она сидела в кровати, обложенная подушками she drew the child close against her ― она крепко прижала к себе ребенка фон, на котором выделяется какой-л предмет: на (фоне); по сравнению the yellow stands out against the black ― желтое резко выделяется на черном the trees were dark against the sky ― на фоне неба деревья казались темными предохранение от чего-л.: от to protect against diseases ― предохранять от заболеваний she shielded her face against the sun ― она заслонила лицо от солнца he wrapped in a blanked against the cold of the night ― он завернулся в одеяло, чтобы ночью не замерзнуть подготовку к чему-л.: про, на to save money against the rainy day ― откладывать деньги про черный день they bought preserves against the winter ― они купили консервы на зиму состязание, конкуренцию, соперничество с чем-л или с кем-л to run against one’s own record time ― пытаться улучшить собственное время (о бегуне) противопоставление или сравнение: против three accidents this year as against thirty in 1964 ― три несчастных случая в этом году против тридцати в 1964 получение в обмен на что-л или с записью на чей-л счет: на, по, против to charge against smb.’s account ― ком. записывать на чей-л счет payment against documents ― ком. оплата против документов a drug sold against a written prescription ― лекарство, продаваемое только по рецепту предмет обмена: на he exchanged books against sweets ― он обменял книги на конфеты завершение действия к определенному сроку: к against the end of the week ― к концу недели спец. в зависимости от, в функции (от) to plot y against x ― построить график функции у по аргументу х

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If you operate a TV or radio station, you have to have a license. It has nothing to do with fundamental freedom. It has to do with protection of the average citizen against abuses.

Robert Cailliau

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD AGAINST

Ageines, from again, ageyn, etc, again + -es genitive ending; the spelling with -t (C16) was probably due to confusion with superlatives ending in -st.

PRONUNCIATION OF AGAINST

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF AGAINST

Against is a preposition.

WHAT DOES AGAINST MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of against in the English dictionary

The first definition of against in the dictionary is opposed to; in conflict or disagreement with. Other definition of against is standing or leaning beside or in front of. Against is also coming in contact with.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH AGAINST

SYNONYMS OF «AGAINST»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «against» and belong to the same grammatical category.

TRANSLATION OF AGAINST

Find out the translation of against to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «AGAINST»

The term «against» is very widely used and occupies the 1.327 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of against

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «AGAINST» OVER TIME

10 QUOTES WITH «AGAINST»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word against.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «AGAINST»

Discover the use of against in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to against and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «AGAINST»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term against is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Against [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/against>. Apr 2023 ».

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. againstconjunction

   By the time that (something happened); before.

2. againstpreposition

   In a contrary direction to.

   If you swim against the current, you must work harder.

3. againstpreposition

   Close to.

4. againstpreposition

   In front of; before a background.

   The giant was silhouetted against the door.

5. againstpreposition

   In physical contact with.

   The puppy rested its head against a paw.

6. againstpreposition

   In physical opposition to, or in collision with.

   The rain pounds against the window.

7. againstpreposition

   In contrast and/or comparison with.

   He stands out against his local classmates

8. againstpreposition

   In competition with, versus.

   The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.

9. againstpreposition

   In opposition to.

10. againstpreposition

    In exchange for.

11. againstpreposition

    As counterbalance to.

12. againstpreposition

    As a charge on.

13. againstpreposition

    As protection from.

    He turned the umbrella against the wind.

14. againstpreposition

    Exposed to.

15. againstpreposition

    In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).

16. Etymology: Formed from agenes,, a southern variant of, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est.

Samuel Johnson’s DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Againstprep.

   Etymology: ængeon, ongeond, Sax.

   1. In opposition to any person.

   And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.
   Gen. xvi. 12.

   2. Contrary; opposite, in general.

   That authority of men should prevail with men either against or above reason, is no part of our belief.
   Richard Hooker.

   He is melancholy without cause, and merry against the hair.
   William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida.

   We might work any effect without and against matter; and this not holpen by the co-operation of angels or spirits, but only by the unity and harmony of nature.
   Francis Bacon, Natural Hist.

   The preventing goodness of God does even wrest him from himself, and save him, as it were, against his will.
   South.

   The god, uneasy till he slept again,
   Resolv’d, at once, to rid himself of pain;
   And, tho’ against his custom, call’d aloud,
   Exciting Morpheus from the sleepy crowd.
   Dryden.

   Men often say a thing is against their conscience, when really it is not.
   Jonathan Swift, Miscellanies.

   3. In contradiction to any opinion.

   After all that can be said against a thing, this will still be true, that many things possibly are, which we know not of; and that many more things may be than are: and if so, after all our arguments against a thing, it will be uncertain whether it be or not.
   John Tillotson.

   The church-clergy have written the best collection of tracts against popery, that ever appeared in England.
   Jonathan Swift.

   4. With contrary motion or tendency; used of material action.

   Boils and plagues
   Plaister you o’er, that you may be abhorr’d
   Farther than seen, and one infect another
   Against the wind a mile.
   William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   The kite being a bird of prey, and therefore hot, delighteth in the fresh air; and many times flieth against the wind, as trouts and salmons swim against the stream.
   Francis Bacon.

   5. Contrary to rule or law.

   If aught against my life
   Thy country sought of thee, it sought unjustly,
   Against the law of nature, law of nations.
   John Milton, Sam. Agon.

   Against the public sanctions of the peace,
   Against all omens of their ill success;
   With fates averse, the rout in arms resort,
   To force their monarch, and insult the court.
   John Dryden, Æn.

   6. Opposite to, in place.

   Against the Tiber’s mouth, but far away.
   Dryden.

   7. To the hurt of another.

   And when thou think’st of her eternity,
   Think not that death against her nature is;
   Think it a birth: and when thou go’st to die,
   Sing like a swan, as if thou went’st to bliss.
   John Davies.

   8. In provision for; in expectation of. This mode of speaking probably had its original from the idea of making provision against, or in opposition to a time of misfortune, but by degrees acquired a neutral sense.

   Thence she them brought into a stately hall,
   Wherein were many tables fair dispred,
   And ready dight with drapets festival,
   Against the viands should be ministred.
   Fairy Queen.

   The like charge was given them against the time they should come to settle themselves in the land promised unto their fathers.
   Richard Hooker, b. v. § 11.

   Some say, that ever ’gainst that season comes,
   Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated,
   The bird of dawning singeth all night long:
   And then they say no spirit walks abroad;
   The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,
   No fairy tales, no witch hath power to charm;
   So hallowed and so gracious is the time.
   William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

   To that purpose, he made haste to Bristol, that all things might be ready against the prince came thither.
   Edward Hyde.

   Against the promis’d time provides with care,
   And hastens in the woof, the robes he was to wear.
   Dryd.

   All which I grant to be reasonably and truly said, and only desire they may be remembered against another day.
   Edward Stillingfleet.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Against

   abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a river; — in this sense often preceded by over

2. Against

   from an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof

3. Against

   in opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence, adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against time

4. Against

   by of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready for the time when

5. Etymology: [OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Against

   Against is the seventh studio album by the Brazilian metal band Sepultura, released in 1998 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band’s first release with new frontman Derrick Green, who replaced group founder Max Cavalera in 1997.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Against

   a-genst′, also a-gānst′, prep. opposite to: in opposition to: in contact or collision with: in provision for: in exchange for, instead of: (B. and Shak.) by the time that, elliptically for ‘against (the time) at which’ or ‘that I come.’ [Formed from again, with genitive ending -es, as whilst from while—the -t being a later addition, as in amongs-t, amids-t, &c.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘against’ in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #137

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘against’ in Written Corpus Frequency: #366

How to pronounce against?

How to say against in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of against in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of against in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of against in a Sentence

1. Kelvin Cochran:

   The LGBT members of our community have a right to be able to express their views and convictions about sexuality and deserve to be respected for their position without hate or discrimination, but Christians also have a right to express our belief regarding our faith and be respected for our position without hate and without discrimination. In the United States, no one should be vilified, hated or discriminated against for expressing their beliefs.

2. Siemens AG:

   We are pleased that the Israeli State Authorities chose to have an arrangement that does not include an indictment against Siemens AG recognising….that Siemens fully cooperated in the course of the investigation.

3. Barack Obama:

   Right now, the rules of global trade too often undermine our values and put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage, tPP allows America – and not countries like China – to write the rules of the road in the 21st century, which is especially important in a region as dynamic as the Asia-Pacific. Signed in February 2016, the deal was supposed to provoke investment among the 12 regions, which together make up about 40 percent of the global economy, the BBC reported at the time. However, the countries involved needed to ratify the agreement in order for it to actually go into effect. Trump’s presidency, which began less than a year later, complicated that. President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the trade deal through an executive order in January 2017. Last month, the remaining 11 countries signed a deal without the U.S. Delegates rally against the The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. ( Reuters/Carlos Barria) Opponents of the deal, including labor unions, argued it would be a threat to manufacturing jobs and encourage exports of jobs to lower-wage countries overseas. If TPP would be enacted, the U.S. would lose 448,000 jobs, according to a study from Tufts University’s Global and Environment Institute. In comparison, the study found a total job loss of 771,000 across all 12 nations involved in the deal combined. Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, broke with the President Barack Obama administration in opposing the deal. Hillary Clinton expressed concern that it would benefit drug countries and would n’t combat currency manipulation, Time magazine reported. President Trump once called TPP a.

4. Maulana Fazl:

   Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif heard our reservations against the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016. He promised to amend the law so that it doesn’t contravene the teachings of the holy Koran.

5. Mayor Turner:

   Now, if you wanna say illegal dumping is occurring, we are on the same page and if you wanna say is occurring more so in communities of color, we are all on the same page. But don’t dare say, don’t dare say that this administration is discriminating against communities of color.

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против, вопреки, от, с, на, к, по, о, у, об, про, рядом

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Словосочетания

two runners racing against each other — двое бегунов, соревнующихся друг с другом  
to bias against — настраивать против кого-л.  
to bid against somebody — предлагать более высокую цену чем кто-л.  
to utter blasphemy against smb. — издавать проклятия в чей-л. адрес  
to bear against surface — прилегать к поверхности  
borrowing against securities — заимствование под залог ценных бумаг  
to bring legal action against smb. — возбудить дело против кого-л.  
to bring charges against smb. — выдвигать обвинения против кого-л.  
to calibrate against — калибровать по  
campaign against smoking — кампания по борьбе с курением  
the case for sanctions against smb. — обоснование санкций против кого-л.  

Примеры с переводом

• Defenition of the word against

  • On the opposing side to.
  • In opposition of something.

Synonyms for the word against

• • adjacent to
  • aligned with
  • alongside
  • anti
  • beside
  • contrary to
  • counter to
  • critical of
  • hostile to
  • in contradiction of
  • in contrast to
  • in opposition to
  • next to
  • not in favor of
  • opposed to
  • touching
  • versus

Similar words in the against

• • against

See other words

• • What is sacht
  • The definition of affectionately
  • The interpretation of the word lovingly
  • What is meant by meigamente
  • The lexical meaning ternaroente
  • The dictionary meaning of the word carinhosamente
  • The grammatical meaning of the word dolcemente
  • Meaning of the word soavemente
  • Literal and figurative meaning of the word amatorie
  • The origin of the word lokakuinen
  • Synonym for the word oktobarski
  • Antonyms for the word oktobra
  • Homonyms for the word oktobrski
  • Hyponyms for the word ottobrino
  • Holonyms for the word corba
  • Hypernyms for the word ferill
  • Proverbs and sayings for the word courbe
  • Translation of the word in other languages kurbo

preposition

COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES

against all odds (=despite something seeming very unlikely)

▪ Against all odds, he recovered from his illness.

against the wall

▪ Bob leaned against the wall.

against your better judgment (=even though you think your action might be wrong)

▪ I lent him the money, against my better judgment.

against/contrary to expectations (=very different to what someone expected)

▪ Contrary to our expectations, the share price actually increased.

an injection against sth

▪ You may need to be given an injection against tetanus.

appeal against conviction (=ask a court of law to change it)

▪ The men intend to appeal against their convictions.

battle/struggle against the odds (=work hard despite great difficulties)

▪ The Coastguard was battling against the odds to keep the oil spill from reaching the shore.

be against sb’s principles

▪ It’s against my principles to eat meat.

be against the rules (=not be allowed)

▪ It was against the rules to talk in class.

be dead (set) against sth (=completely disapprove of or disagree with something)

▪ I’d like to be an actress but Mum and Dad are dead set against it.

be seen against the background of

▪ The unemployment data must be seen against the background of world recession.

brace sth against sth

▪ Gina braced her back against the wall and pushed as hard as she could.

bring a case (against sb)

▪ There was not enough evidence to bring a case against him.

bring a complaint against sbformal (= complain in a formal, legal way)

▪ Higgins brought a complaint against his former manager.

bring a lawsuit against sb (=to take a lawsuit against someone to a court)

▪ A former employee brought a lawsuit against the company claiming unfair dismissal.

bring a prosecution against sb (=prosecute them)

▪ The police did not bring a prosecution against him.

bring an accusation against sb

▪ The accusations against him were brought by two 18-year-old women.

fell…against the yen (=decreased in value in relation to the yen)

▪ The dollar fell by 24 percent against the yen between 1970 and 1973.

file a complaint/lawsuit/petition etc (against sb)

▪ Mr Genoa filed a formal complaint against the department.

go against the grain (=are not what I would normally choose to do)

▪ I often have to make decisions that go against the grain.

have a grievance (against sb)

▪ I had no grievance against him.

have nothing against (=have no reason to dislike them)

▪ I have nothing against foreigners .

hoping against hope (=hoping for something that is very unlikely to happen or be true)

▪ I rang my parents, hoping against hope that they hadn’t left yet.

insure (sth/sb) against loss/damage/theft/sickness etc

▪ It is wise to insure your property against storm damage.

it went against the grain

▪ Mary is always honest and it went against the grain to tell lies.

level an accusation against/at sb (=bring an accusation against someone)

▪ As a result, some outrageous accusations were levelled at her.

pit your wits against sb (=compete against someone using your intelligence or knowledge)

▪ Pit your wits against family or friends!

prejudice against women/black people etc

▪ There is still a lot of prejudice against women in positions of authority.

protect sth against frost

▪ The plants need to be protected against frost.

race against time/the clock

▪ The astronauts are racing against time to repair the spaceship.

risen against the dollar (=increased in value in relation to the dollar)

▪ The pound has risen against the dollar.

sth is against the law (=it is illegal)

▪ The children knew that shoplifting was against the law.

strike a blow at/against/to sth

▪ The scandal seemed to have struck a mortal blow to the government’s chances of re-election.

take/make/mount a stand (against sth)

▪ We have to take a stand against racism.

the fight/war against terrorism

▪ ideas on how the international community can further the war against terrorism

the odds are stacked against sb (=there are a lot of difficulties that may prevent someone’s success)

▪ They may be able to build a life for themselves, but the odds are stacked against them.

up against it

▪ Murphy will be really up against it when he faces the champion this afternoon.

works against (=harms or causes problems for)

▪ Sexism still works against women in many professions.

PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

a black mark (against sb)

▪ It is almost impossible to borrow money if you have any black marks against you.

▪ A mini-breakdown was less of a black mark than a criminal record if he should ever choose to emigrate.

▪ Incidentally, Willoughby, you’ve earned yourself a black mark for that little trouble.

▪ Irina had put a black mark against him with Rakovsky.

▪ It would be a good mark, not a black mark.

▪ The exam league tables have also been given a black mark by teaching unions.

▪ The outcome will be recorded but the finding does not constitute a black mark on the record of the officer involved.

▪ Why is not immediately obvious but sufficiently worrying to put a black mark against the program.

▪ You get a black mark next to your name that may show up in your next evaluation.

against nature

against sb’s wishes

▪ He became a dancer against the wishes of his family.

against the clock

▪ For a normally aspirated 2.5, the 325i’s showing against the clock is complete and impressive.

▪ He was positive in all he did and this approach helped us to win many games against the clock or the weather.

▪ Needless to say, starting that particular sewer again is very time-consuming, and the whole thing’s against the clock!

▪ Sullivan Sergeant Sullivan looked at the wristwatch his girlfriend had given him and checked it against the clock on the wall.

▪ The ride is against the clock and points are taken away for knocking down obstacles.

▪ Thorns Gill is too precious to suffer damage by boots racing against the clock.

against the grain

▪ For those raised in the prudery of puritanism or the celibacy-conscious preoccupations of Catholicism this ran against the grain.

▪ Granted, that goes against the grain.

▪ Greg Dively is one woodworker who really goes against the grain.

▪ However it goes against the grain to tell them anything.

▪ However, it goes against the grain to have to say this, as it is our land after all.

▪ It went against the grain to have to tell others how to behave.

▪ Once again, Silverton goes against the grain by making her meringue smooth and flat instead of fluffy and high.

▪ The Smiths run directly against the grain.

as against sth

▪ Profits this year are $2.5 million as against $4 million last year.

be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall

be drawn against sb

▪ The curtains, so blue that they were almost black, were drawn against the view.

▪ Window shades were drawn against the afternoon sun and the light in the house had an amber cast.

be more sinned against than sinning

be proof against sth

▪ The varnish makes the wood proof against water.

▪ A marine regiment was equipped with plasma cannon, and the marine battle armour was proof against most weapons.

▪ Even my highly regrettable tendency to react positively whenever the fridge door is opened was proof against that.

▪ Roxburgh Castle was proof against all but prolonged siege and heavy artillery.

be/come up against a (brick) wall

▪ She swam in what she hoped was the direction of the stairs, only to come up against a wall.

bring charges/a lawsuit/a court case/a prosecution/a claim (against sb)

close your mind to/against sth

▪ Academic interpretations held off the shame for a while, but then he could no longer close his mind to it.

▪ Bambi’s closed her mind to it.

▪ He could tell by her eyes that she had closed her mind to him.

▪ I closed my ears and tried to close my mind to what was happening.

▪ Memories of her grandmother’s judgements obtruded themselves and she closed her mind against them.

▪ She had immediately closed her mind to all thought, not even realising how tightly she had been gripping fitzAlan’s hand.

▪ She stretched out on the bed, closing her mind to the sounds and waited.

cover yourself (against sth)

▪ Dealers will no longer need to buy to cover themselves, removing one factor that has supported prices.

▪ He covered himself with a blanket that suddenly seemed to move on its own-an army of insects began crawling over his skin.

▪ He covers himself in rose-water all the time so that the place smells like a funeral parlour.

▪ He tumbled to the ground, writhed around on the dirt and covered himself with dust.

▪ I slid out of bed and covered myself with a huge paisley shawl.

▪ In a sense it was inevitable that Kelly should cover himself in glory.

▪ My landlady had stopped screaming by now because she’d managed to cover herself up.

▪ She told him that he would cover himself with ridicule by bringing the boy back.

crime against humanity

▪ All are defined as crimes against humanity and carry a penalty of life imprisonment.

▪ All four have been charged with crimes against humanity by the Hague International Tribunal.

▪ He is charged with 20 war crimes, including genocide and crimes against humanity.

▪ If the conference succeeds in labelling slave trafficking a crime against humanity, demands for compensation will surely follow.

▪ Shouldn’t they at least be discussed within the same context of international law and crimes against humanity?

▪ That is a crime against humanity.

▪ These are crimes against humanity, as has been said.

▪ They also slavishly accepted the amnesty that Pinochet and his generals had granted themselves to avoid trial for their crimes against humanity.

flatten yourself against sth

▪ I flattened myself against the wall.

▪ As the train began slowing down for North Chittendon, I flattened myself against the window.

▪ Brennan and Douglas flattened themselves against the front of the trench as it went over.

▪ I flattened myself against the wall.

▪ Quickly they moved out of sight, flattening themselves against the corridor walls to either side of the short passage.

▪ She’d flattened herself against the outside wall like some one in a spy movie.

▪ She flattened herself against the end terrace wall and looked back.

go against the flow

have nothing against sb/sth

▪ I have nothing against Jack personally, I just don’t like his line of work.

▪ Atari and Psion, like most companies, have nothing against enthusiasts making one or two copies for personal back-ups.

▪ I have nothing against Mr Jack Neighbours, who sadly, I understand, was killed in the war.

▪ I have nothing against the Arabs … They are the same as us.

▪ I have nothing against the Arabs.

▪ I have nothing against these resorts, but my own shortlist of best resorts would not include any of them.

▪ I have nothing against thorns and prickles so long as you can admire them from a safe distance.

▪ Now I want this distinctly understood, that I have nothing against Cleveland.

have your back to/against the wall

have/make common cause (with/against sb)

hold your own (against sb)

▪ And he is bound to hold his own.

▪ Chaparral and forests resisted the invasion, and in some places they have held their own even against fire and development.

▪ He and his government colleagues were confident they could hold their own against the mujahedin.

▪ In many areas, Whigs clearly continued to hold their own amongst the squirearchy.

▪ Sharpe was holding his own sword low beside his stirrup, almost as if he could not be bothered to fight.

▪ Then, holding her own breath and moving stealthily on tiptoe, she began to ease her way towards the exit.

▪ Well and nobly did… his gallant troops hold their own….

▪ You hold your own life together.

hurl yourself at/against etc sb/sth

▪ And yet people still hurl themselves at this fence.

▪ For an instant, Jimmy wondered whether he should hurl himself at the plate-glass windows.

▪ I hurl myself at the soldier.

▪ Shopkeeper Nasser Ali, 25, hurled himself at Conroy, who emptied his magazine of all six shots.

▪ The control room door slammed shut behind Atrimonides as he ran on to the gallery and hurled himself at Christine.

▪ The warriors hurled themselves at the heads or horns of their animals to make them lie down.

▪ The wind was gusting through the branches of the old oak tree outside and hurling itself against his window.

kick against the pricks

level criticism/charges/accusations etc at/against sb

▪ Even Mrs Thatcher levelled criticism at the lack of compartment privacy, but the policy against compartments was now firmly established.

make/find common cause (with/against sb)

not have a bad word to say about/against sb

over against sth

▪ The church is being forced to define itself over against non-religious culture.

pit your wits against sb

▪ Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines.

race/work/battle against time

▪ But his parents are faced with a desperate race against time to raise the money necessary for his treatment.

▪ For the cartoonists, it’s a daily battle against time, to create work that captures the imagination.

▪ However, with the contract negotiations starting, Lipton and others know that they are fighting a battle against time.

▪ It is a race against time.

▪ It looks as if my whole life is a race against time.

▪ Now it is a race against time to rebuild it before high spring ties later this month.

▪ The picture which became the cover shot, of the Rollright Stones, was a particular race against time.

▪ They face a race against time as fears grow over the health of the whales and the possibility of their becoming beached.

range yourself with/against sb/sth

set on/upon/against (doing) sth

▪ A pail of cold water for washing was set on the floor so that performers had to bend over to use it.

▪ Lance Rees was set on as he passed the sorting office in Withernsea, Humberside, on his way to school.

▪ Manuel Perez’s brother left after his house was set on fire.

▪ Margarett set upon the package, tearing at its wrappings, only to find beneath it another carton, then still another.

▪ Once again I detect a false opposition: an idealised reality set against the alien forces of darkness.

▪ They were hacked to death and their bodies set on fire.

▪ Time limits may be set on how long employees can leave their goods in storage and receive reimbursement from their employers.

▪ Were the limits set on their radiation exposure acceptable?

set sth against tax

▪ Parents can also set costs against tax.

set sth off against tax

set your face against sth

▪ Alternatively, the rule-makers can set their faces against the pressures for change.

▪ Does the hon. Gentleman really want to set his face against the improvements that trust status could deliver?

▪ I would set my face against the casualisation of the Corporation.

▪ It has set its face against cutting prices.

▪ The Lord Chancellor set his face against growing criticism over his behaviour.

set yourself against (doing) sth

▪ But pop sets itself against nature and abandons wisdom for folly, moments of dissipation.

▪ She leaned into him, set herself against him.

▪ The three Established Church representatives set themselves against; the other four who were Free Churchmen were for it.

▪ Why has the Supreme Court set itself against the will of the majority on such an unprecedented scale?

sth is loaded against sb/sth

swim against the tide/current etc

▪ Light given out by distant galaxies has to swim against the tide of expansion to get to us.

▪ There s no point in you tryin to swim against the tide now, is there?

the dice/odds are loaded against sb/sth

the odds/cards are stacked against sb

▪ Although confident, we know the odds are stacked against the climbers.

there ought to be a law against sth

there’s no law against sth

two/three strikes against sb/sth

▪ For the younger pilots, I had two strikes against me before I even began that were impossible to overcome.

▪ Generally, unless batters have two strikes against them, Bosley doesn’t want them to swing at high strikes.

up against sth/sb

EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES

▪ Eating good food is good insurance against sickness.

▪ Everyone was against closing the factory.

▪ He was injured in the game against the Cowboys.

▪ I’m against all forms of hunting.

▪ I hate it when the cat rubs its head against my legs.

▪ I have trouble knowing what colors look good against each other.

▪ It’s against my principles to borrow money.

▪ It’s so difficult swimming against the current.

▪ Only 3% of blacks were registered voters against 97% of the white residents.

▪ The planning regulations tend to work against smaller companies.

▪ The rain drummed against the window.

▪ The younger policeman was leaning against the desk.

▪ There were 10 votes for and 15 against the motion.

▪ This spray can be used against weevil and other crop pests.

▪ We had to sail against the wind.