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单词 against
释义
againsta‧gainst /əˈɡenst, əˈɡeɪnst $ əˈɡenst/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition Word Origin
WORD ORIGINagainst
Origin:
1300-1400 againes ‘against’ (11-16 centuries), from again
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • 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.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorto think something is wrong
to think that something is wrong and that it should not be allowed: · Lundgren is against abortion.· Most people are opposed to the privatization of the city's public transportation system.be strongly against: · There are two or three groups that are strongly against construction of the dam.be dead set against (=be very much against something): · She wants to marry him, but her parents are dead set against it.be strongly/totally/opposed to: · Senator Thompson remains totally opposed to any form of gun control.
to think that a plan, idea etc is wrong, and to try to prevent it from happening or succeeding: · Conservative MPs say they will oppose the new bill.strongly/vigorously oppose: · The Church strongly opposes same-sex marriage.
especially spoken to be against something, for example because it is new or different and you do not like things to change: · My grandmother doesn't agree with divorce.· There are many people in the US who do not agree with capital punishment.
to not support something, because you think something is wrong or immoral: · Fiona doesn't believe in having sex before marriage.· I don't believe in hitting children for any reason.
: anti-war/-smoking/-American etc against war, smoking, America etc: · Anti-war demonstrators gathered in the city's main square.· The anti-smoking laws seem ridiculous to me.· Anti-American sentiment remains high in the region.
someone who is hostile to a plan or idea opposes it very strongly, and expresses this in an angry way: · A hostile audience refused to listen to Senator Drummond's reply.hostile to/towards: · Local people are hostile towards the plan, which would involve a significant tax increase.openly hostile (=showing very clearly that you are hostile): · Lydon was openly hostile to any kind of criticism of the project.
behaving in a way that shows that you strongly disapprove of someone or something: · A lot of people refuse to work with Paula. Her manner is just too antagonistic.antagonistic to/towards: · The right-wing press has always been deeply antagonistic towards the Labour party.
a person or group that opposes something
a person or group that opposes something: opponent of: · In some countries, any opponent of the government is likely to lose their job.· One notable opponent of the proposal was the mayor.
a group that is opposing another group, especially the political party or parties whose elected representatives oppose the official government: · Opinion polls showed the opposition pulling ahead in some areas.· Newspapers must reflect the views of the opposition as well as those of the government.
a person or group that opposes something very strongly and tries to stop it or destroy it - used especially when you disapprove of this person or group: enemy of: · the enemies of democracy· an enemy of the Jewish people
words or behaviour that show that you oppose something
something that you say because you oppose one particular detail of a plan, course of action etc: have an objection: · If anyone has any objections, please let us know as soon as possible.raise an objection (=state an objection): · When I told him about my plans, my father raised one objection after another.have no objection: · If you have no objection, I would like to use your name as a reference when I start applying for jobs.
things that people say or do in order to show that they are against something: · Widespread opposition to the military government led to violence in the streets.opposition to: · Opposition to the war grew rapidly.face opposition: · Plans for the new stadium will no doubt face a lot of opposition.express opposition: · Thousands of people plan to gather on Sunday to express their opposition to the government's handling of the crisis.strong opposition: · Despite strong opposition, the law was passed.
angry remarks or behaviour that shows someone opposes a plan or idea very strongly: · The announcement was greeted with hostility from some employees.hostility to/towards: · Recently there has been hostility towards the Prime Minister from members of his own party.open hostility (=obvious or public hostility): · Given his open hostility, it seemed pointless to try and continue to persuade him.
angry and unpleasant feelings or behaviour that show someone dislikes or disagrees very strongly with a person, organization, plan, or idea: antagonism to/towards: · Hines made no effort to conceal his antagonism towards his supervisor.antagonism between: · Mitchell sees no clear way to end the antagonism between the two groups.
to say that you oppose something
to say something to show that you oppose a plan or action because you think it is unfair or morally wrong: · His supporters will certainly object if he is fired.object to: · Rebecca objects to being told what to do.strongly object to: · The committee strongly objected to the report's recommendations.
to give specific reasons for opposing a plan or action: · None of the committee members raised any objections, so we took a vote.raise objections to: · Several church members raised objections to the way the money had been spent.
when one thing is being compared with another
· The British are good drivers compared to those in the rest of the EU.· Statistics show that there has been a 20% reduction in burglary compared with last year.· Women visit their doctors six times a year compared to the three or so visits that men make.
as shown when compared with another situation, idea, person etc: · My car is so slow that it makes a bicycle look fast in comparison.in comparison/by comparison with: · We employ far fewer staff in comparison with similar-sized companies.pale in/by comparison (=to look worse or much less important in comparison): · Forecasters say this year's drought could make that of 1991 pale by comparison.· The Yankees' problems pale by comparison with those of the Dodgers.
use this to talk about the difference between the things, situations, people etc that you are comparing: · I read a lot as a child, but my daughter, by contrast, just seems interested in television.in contrast to: · In contrast to the hot days, the nights are bitterly cold.
use this to say that something seems more or less impressive, important etc when compared to something else: · Tom's efforts seemed so weak beside Martin's.· Delhi is so old that many European cities actually look young beside it.
use this when you are comparing two pieces of information, facts, etc in order to show how they are different: · Last year there were 443 industrial accidents as against 257 in 1985.· With only 57 inhabitants per square mile, as against a world average of over 70, the country is far from overcrowded.
use this to say that something does not seem correct, suitable, impressive etc compared with the things that surround it: · Ricky's head is small in proportion to the rest of his body.· I've always thought that my problems were very minor in proportion to those of many other people.
having a particular quality when compared with something else: · Kim lived a life of relative ease and privilege.relative strength/weakness: · the relative strength of the dollar against the Mexican pesorelative advantages (and disadvantages): · She was terrified of flying. The relative advantages of air travel didn't tempt her at all.relative merits (=what is good about them compared with each other): · The two men stood at the bar discussing the relative merits of various sports cars.it is all relative (=it can not be judged on its own, but must be compared with others): · It's all relative, isn't it? Someone who is poor in this country might be considered well off in another.
: comparative happiness/comfort/safety etc happiness, comfort, safety etc that is fairly satisfactory when compared to another: · After a lifetime of poverty, his last few years were spent in comparative comfort.· Fresh fruit and vegetables have become a comparative rarity in the region.· During the bombings, families sheltered in the comparative safety of the underground rail stations.
: more/less/bigger etc than · Geographically, Canada is bigger than the US.· My sister earns a lot more than I do.
when one statement, idea etc makes a different one seem untrue
if one statement or fact contradicts another one, it is so different that it makes the other one seem untrue or impossible: · The two newspaper reports totally contradict each other.· Recent experiments seem to contradict earlier results.· O'Brien's later statement contradicted what he had told Somerville police on the night of the murder.
very different from each other - use this especially when two things should be the same: · At first we received conflicting information about the number of children who were seriously hurt.· Researchers tend to offer conflicting advice on which vitamin and mineral supplements might keep us healthy.
if a statement, story, fact etc is inconsistent with what you expect or already know of the situation, it is completely different from it: · IBM said that the £37 million payment had been made in a way that was inconsistent with company policy.· Wolff, an economics professor at New York University, said that the results were inconsistent with all the other data they had.
a small fact or detail that is different from what you expected, especially one that makes you think that something is wrong: · Whenever he works out his accounts there are always discrepancies.discrepancy between: · Apparently there were discrepancies between police reports taken from the same witnesses at different times.discrepancy in: · She always refused to discuss the discrepancies in her biography.
if something goes against what you think or what someone has told you, it is different from the opinions, attitudes etc that you have learnt: · What the teacher was saying went against everything his parents had taught him.· She couldn't explain what had made her go against her upbringing and character and behave so recklessly.
if a statement, story, fact etc is at odds with another, the two things are so completely different that one of them must be untrue: · John Nelson has been re-examining the evidence, and his conclusions are greatly at odds with the story so far.· The government decision to raise taxes was at odds with their policies on inflation.
to have a disadvantage compared to other people or things
· She has the same qualifications as the other candidates, but has one big disadvantage - lack of experience.· Their restaurant has the disadvantage of being located south of town, a little too far from the tourist routes.
to have a disadvantage, especially because you do not have the experience or qualities that make you more likely to succeed in doing something: · Women are still at a disadvantage when it comes to getting jobs in the military.· People with previous convictions are always at a disadvantage when on trial in a court of law.put/place somebody at a disadvantage: · The test put candidates whose first language was not English at a disadvantage.
if someone is disadvantaged , they are suffering social or economic disadvantages such as lack of money or bad education, so that they have less chance of being successful than other people: · The club runs programs for disadvantaged children in the inner city areas.the disadvantaged (=disadvantaged people): · Booth invented schemes to help the disadvantaged in the community.
to have a disadvantage that makes it very difficult for you to do something: be handicapped by something: · The Republican candidate was handicapped by his heavy schedule.· In all its ambitious plans the company has been handicapped by an outdated system of management.
use this to say that someone has a big disadvantage so that they are very unlikely to be successful: · With every big company in town trying to stop them, the odds are stacked against them.· Most people who go into casinos know the odds are stacked heavily against them, but it doesn't stop them from trying.
to give someone or something a disadvantage: · Her height could be to her disadvantage if she wants to be a dancer.· To its disadvantage, the book contains a lot of material that is difficult for the average person to understand.to the disadvantage of: · The government has reorganized the taxation system to the disadvantage of low-paid workers.
if particular conditions are against someone or something, they make it unlikely or impossible for them to succeed in doing something: · Time is against us. The longer we wait to find a solution to the crisis, the worse it will get.· He wanted to become a pilot but his bad eyesight was against him.
if something counts against you, it makes people have a worse opinion of you, and often makes people decide not to choose you, or makes them decide that you are guilty: · We believe Caroline Connely is innocent, but her silence could count against her in a court.· He was a child when he committed the crime. Should that count against him as an adult with a clean record?
to not like someone because of something they have done
to dislike someone for a particular reason, although the reason is not clear: · Sam has something against me.· Your brother's got something against me. God knows what.· She probably has something against men.
informal if someone has it in for you, they dislike you and are always looking for ways to hurt you, especially because of something you have done in the past: · I don't know why anybody would have it in for Eddy. He's a really nice guy.· Sometimes I think my supervisor has it in for me.
to continue to dislike someone and feel angry with them, because you believe they harmed you in the past and you have not forgiven them: · She bore a grudge for a long time.· It isn't in that woman's nature to bear grudges.bear a grudge against: · He bore a grudge against my father for years.
if there is no love lost between two people, they dislike each other and do not have a friendly relationship: · Sounds like there's not a lot of love lost between the two of you.· It is clear from these letters that there was no love lost between the Princess and her stepmother.
to make someone stop liking a person, thing, or activity
informal to stop someone from liking or being interested in someone or something: · Don't let her put you off, it's a really good movie.· When you know an artist used to abuse his wife and children it does tend to put you off his work.· That weekend put me off camping for the rest of my life!· When she told me she worked in an abattoir it rather put me off her.
to deliberately change someone's feelings, so that they stop liking someone that they used to like: · My ex-wife is trying to turn the children against me.· Brenda even tried to turn my sister against me.
to not obey a person
to not do what you are told to do by someone in authority: · It was unfair of the teacher to make us stay after school, but no one dared disobey.· My father was very strict and old-fashioned, but I never disobeyed him. · Black had disobeyed the judge's ruling, and continued to harass his ex-wife.
if someone, especially a child, does not do as they are told , they refuse to obey a parent, teacher, etc: · "Daddy, why?" "Don't ask, just do as you're told."· If she doesn't do as she's told, send her to her room.
to deliberately disobey someone in authority, even though you know this will make them angry: · Billy defied his mother, and smoked openly in the house.· She said she would defy the party leader and vote against him.
to not do what someone has asked you to do, or what you know they want you to do: · They went against their parents' wishes and got married secretly.· Sacha went against her family's wishes by leaving school at 16.
to deliberately behave in a way that is completely different from the way that your parents and people in general expect you to behave: · Her parents wanted her to go to university, but she rebelled and went to live on a commune.rebel against: · Teenagers tend to rebel against people in authority.
to refuse to forgive someone
to refuse to forgive someone, because they have done something very bad: never forgive somebody for something: · She never really forgave Roy for what he said.never forgive yourself: · I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to the children while I was out.
to continue to feel angry with someone for a long time because they treated you badly in the past: · Coughlan loved to argue but he never held a grudge.bear/hold a grudge against: · Can you think of anyone who might bear a grudge against you?· Police believe the suspect held a grudge against the federal government.
to dislike someone because of something they did in the past, even though it is no longer important: · Look, he made one mistake - you can't hold it against him for the rest of his life.
to play against someone else
· Barcelona will play Milan in the final.· This was McDaniel's first game playing against his former teammates.play tennis/golf/chess etc with somebody · Dad's out playing golf with Barry this morning.play somebody at tennis/golf etc British · I'm playing Andy at tennis this afternoon.
also take on to play against a person or team, especially one that will be difficult to beat - used in newspapers and broadcasts: · Tomorrow, Jane Wilkes, a first-round qualifier, takes on the world number one, Monica Seles.· UCLA will face North Carolina tonight at Pauley Pavilion.
British informal to play a game against another person, especially when it is not a serious or important game: · If you want to play chess ask Maria -- she'll give you a game.
against another person or team: · Yesterday in the semi-final we saw Sampras versus Henman.· It's a friendly game - the women versus the men.
also v British written abbreviation of versus: · Today's games include the Chicago Bulls vs. the Boston Celtics.· Gascoigne was back in the UK, to play in the England v France match.
to have a problem
· If you have any problems, just come and ask me.· I had a few problems getting the copier to work.have a problem with · I'm having a bit of a problem with my dishwasher.· One landowner says he has never had any problems with hikers crossing his property.· Jane can be quite difficult to get on with -- I've had one or two problems with her in the past.
to have problems that make it more difficult to do something: · You look as if you're having trouble -- do you want any help?have trouble/difficulty with: · I had some trouble with the car this morning.· She's having a little difficulty with her spelling.have trouble/difficulty doing something: · He had a lot of trouble finding a job.· The child was having difficulty breathing.
to have serious problems: · It's clear from these figures that the company is in trouble.· When someone's in trouble it's natural to try and help them.get into trouble (=start having serious problems): · I took out a loan but got into trouble when I lost my job.in deep/serious/big trouble (=have very serious problems): · Consular officers can help and advise you if you are in any serious trouble while abroad.
to have a lot of problems or a lot of difficulty doing something: · Premature babies have a hard time even under the best of circumstances.have a hard time doing something: · A lot of people are having a hard time making ends meet.· Anyone calling the 202 area code this weekend had a hard time getting through.
to have a problem, a difficult choice, or the possibility of something bad happening soon: · We are often faced with dilemmas or problems which have no easy answers.· Manufacturing industries are faced with decreasing productivity and increasing international competition.· When faced with an unfamiliar word, good readers are able to make guesses based on the meaning and structure of the sentence.
to have a difficult problem or opponent that you must deal with or fight against: · The company is up against tough competition from abroad.· When you're surfing and get hit by a wave, it's a reminder of what you're up against.· In the semi-finals he will be up against one of the best players in the game.
to start having problems or difficulties that you have to deal with: · Older people applying for jobs come up against an age barrier.· The committee found itself coming up against the prejudices of many staff when it tried to introduce new working practices.
to experience problems, difficulties, or opposition while you are trying to do something: · Drivers on the M25 are likely to encounter fog and black ice tonight.· Many of the children encountered some difficulty in learning the material.· The government has encountered strong opposition over its plans to build a new airport.
to unexpectedly start having problems while you are doing something: · The corporation has run into serious financial problems.· Our staff will be happy to answer your questions should you run into difficulties installing the equipment yourself.
informal to have a lot of difficult problems to deal with or a lot of things to worry about: · Don't bother your mother -- she's got a lot on her plate at the moment.· Susan's had a lot on her plate recently, what with the car accident and everything.
doing something unwillingly
if you do something unwillingly , you do it slowly or without any eagerness, in a way that shows you are unwilling: · Johnson unwillingly admitted he'd been drinking that evening.· He pointed at a chair, and Alfred sat down unwillingly.
if you do something reluctantly , you do it even though you are not very willing to do it: · Reluctantly, he gave the officer his name and address.· He reluctantly consented to his daughter's marriage.· Mrs. Bernson reluctantly agreed to help prepare for the conference.
if you do something against your will , you do not want to do it but you are forced to: · The refugees were sent back against their will.· No one should be forced to marry against their will.
if you do something or say something grudgingly , especially something that gives help or praise or pleasure to someone else, you do it very unwillingly: · The city council has grudgingly given $100,000 towards the new after-school care program.· Steve grudgingly admitted that Matthew had played a better game.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 They got married against her parents’ wishes (=although they knew her parents did not want them to).
 She has been kept in the house against her will (=she does not want to stay in the house).
 The use of certain drugs is against the law (=illegal).
 It’s against my principles to borrow money (=I do not believe it is right).
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
· The accusations against him were brought by two 18-year-old women.
(=bring an accusation against someone)· As a result, some outrageous accusations were levelled at her.
 Gina braced her back against the wall and pushed as hard as she could.
· There was not enough evidence to bring a case against him.
formal (=complain in a formal, legal way)· Higgins brought a complaint against his former manager.
(=ask a court of law to change it)· The men intend to appeal against their convictions.
(=completely disapprove of or disagree with something)· I’d like to be an actress but Mum and Dad are dead set against it.
 The pound has risen against the dollar (=increased in value in relation to the dollar).
(=very different to what someone expected)· Contrary to our expectations, the share price actually increased.
 Mr Genoa filed a formal complaint against the department.
· The plants need to be protected against frost.
 I often have to make decisions that go against the grain (=are not what I would normally choose to do).
 Mary is always honest and it went against the grain to tell lies.
· I had no grievance against him.
 I have nothing against foreigners (=have no reason to dislike them).
 I rang my parents, hoping against hope (=hoping for something that is very unlikely to happen or be true) that they hadn’t left yet.
· You may need to be given an injection against tetanus.
 It is wise to insure your property against storm damage.
(=even though you think your action might be wrong)· I lent him the money, against my better judgment.
(=it is illegal)· The children knew that shoplifting was against the law.
(=to take a lawsuit against someone to a court)· A former employee brought a lawsuit against the company claiming unfair dismissal.
(=work hard despite great difficulties)· The Coastguard was battling against the odds to keep the oil spill from reaching the shore.
(=despite something seeming very unlikely)· Against all odds, he recovered from his illness.
(=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.
(=compete against someone using your intelligence or knowledge) Pit your wits against family or friends!
· There is still a lot of prejudice against women in positions of authority.
· It’s against my principles to eat meat.
(=prosecute them)· The police did not bring a prosecution against him.
 The astronauts are racing against time to repair the spaceship.
(=not be allowed)· It was against the rules to talk in class.
 The unemployment data must be seen against the background of world recession.
 We have to take a stand against racism.
 The scandal seemed to have struck a mortal blow to the government’s chances of re-election.
· ideas on how the international community can further the war against terrorism
 Murphy will be really up against it when he faces the champion this afternoon.
 Bob leaned against the wall.
 Sexism still works against (=harms or causes problems for) women in many professions.
 The dollar fell by 24 percent against the yen (=decreased in value in relation to the yen) between 1970 and 1973.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • A ripple of crowd laughter came up against the breeze from the direction of the main grandstands.
  • And what do you do when to come up against a brick wall?
  • At every turn workers found themselves coming up against the State.
  • Here, Wade realized, he had come up against a few firm truths.
  • In every direction he came up against his own incompleteness.
  • The acts were not just reluctant to offend, but even to probe beyond the first middle-class convention they came up against.
  • Together, they come up against an extraordinarily barbaric state bureaucracy and not a few disappointments.
  • What you have here is a situation where custom and convention comes up against constitutional guarantees.
  • I have nothing against people making lots of money.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Profits this year are $2.5 million as against $4 million last year.
► have your back to/against the wall► not have a bad word to say about/against somebody
  • 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.
► bring charges/a lawsuit/a court case/a prosecution/a claim (against somebody)► have/make common cause (with/against somebody)
  • 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.
  • 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.
► make/find common cause (with/against somebody)
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
► be (like) banging/bashing etc your head against a brick wall
  • 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.
  • 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► there’s no law against something► there ought to be a law against something
  • Even Mrs Thatcher levelled criticism at the lack of compartment privacy, but the policy against compartments was now firmly established.
► the dice/odds are loaded against somebody/something► something is loaded against somebody/something► against nature
  • 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.
  • The church is being forced to define itself over against non-religious culture.
  • 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.
► range yourself with/against somebody/something
  • 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?
  • Parents can also set costs against tax.
► set something off against tax
  • 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?
► be more sinned against than sinning
  • Although confident, we know the odds are stacked against the climbers.
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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.
► up against something/somebody
  • She swam in what she hoped was the direction of the stairs, only to come up against a wall.
  • He became a dancer against the wishes of his family.
  • Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines.
1a)used to say that someone opposes or disagrees with something:  Every council member voted against the proposal. those who are campaigning against the new road He advised me against travelling. Mr Howard has declared that he is against all forms of racism. the fight against terrorism b)used to say that an action is not wanted or approved of by someone:  They got married against her parents’ wishes (=although they knew her parents did not want them to). She has been kept in the house against her will (=she does not want to stay in the house). The use of certain drugs is against the law (=illegal). It’s against my principles to borrow money (=I do not believe it is right). c)used to say that something is not allowed by a law or rule:  There ought to be a law against it.2used to say who someone is competing with or trying to defeat in a game, battle etc:  Gambotti was injured in last Saturday’s game against the Lions. We’ll be competing against the best companies in Europe.3used to say who is harmed, threatened, or given a disadvantage:  violence against elderly people crimes against humanity discrimination against women There had been death threats against prison staff. Your lack of experience could count against you. The regulations tend to work against smaller companies.4used to say that something touches, hits, or rubs a surface:  the sound of the rain drumming against my window The car skidded and we could hear the crunch of metal against metal.5next to and touching an upright surface, especially for support:  There was a ladder propped up against the wall. The younger policeman was leaning against the bureau with his arms folded.6in the opposite direction to the movement or flow of something OPP  with:  sailing against the wind She dived down and swam out strongly against the current.7seen with something else behind or as a background:  He could see a line of figures silhouetted against the sky. It is important to know what colours look good against your skin.8used to show that you are considering particular events in relation to other events that are happening at the same time:  The reforms were introduced against a background of social unrest.9used to say what you are comparing something with:  The pound has fallen 10% against the dollar. She checked the contents of the box against the list. The cost of the proposed research needs to be balanced against its benefits.10used to say who or what you are trying to protect someone or something from:  insurance against accident and sickness a cream to protect against sunburn a vaccine which is effective against pneumonia11used to say who is said or shown to have done something wrong:  He has always emphatically denied the allegations against him. The evidence against you is overwhelming.12be/come up against somebody/something to have to deal with a difficult opponent or problem:  You see, this is what we’re up against – the suppliers just aren’t reliable.13have something against somebody/something to dislike or disapprove of someone or something:  I don’t have anything against babies. I just don’t feel very comfortable with them.
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更新时间：2024/11/13 8:08:46