Meanings
- idiomaticIn a very difficult position.
When they were up against it here, they produced something special.
2025 November 18, Scott McDermott, “Kieran Tierney stunner sends Scotland to first World Cup in 28 years before McLean does the ridiculous”, in Daily Record2 more examples
"But we are up against it, so what's the decision?" "It seems a most questionable step," said Summerlee, argumentative to the last, "but if you are all going, I hardly see how I can remain behind." "Then it is settled," said Lord John, and turning to the chief he nodded and slapped his rifle.
1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLCYet as intelligently as Rafferty, back at left-back following her recovery from a third ruptured cruciate ligament, was defending against the dangerous Élodie Thomis her side were up against it.
2015 June 9, “Women’s World Cup 2015: England beaten by France in Group F opener”, in The Guardian (London)Synonyms: up against the wall
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseIn a very difficult position.
Cite this entry
up against it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20against%20it
“up against it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20against%20it. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “up against it,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20against%20it.
Source: up against it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.