go up against
Face as adversary
Go up against means to face in competition or conflict: The team goes up against their rivals tomorrow, She's going up against a well-funded opponent in the election.
The phrase implies confrontation with a formidable challenge—you go up against something difficult, not something easy.
- faceHead's anterior surface
- face offDirect competitive encounter
- battleArmed military engagement
- contendStruggle in opposition
- stare downDefeat by sustained gaze
defy · take a stand · challenge · throw down the gauntlet · clash · butt heads · wrestle · encounter · tackle · square off · vie · take on · cross swords · combat · rival · lock horns · duel · showdown
confrontation vs. avoidance
go up againstavoid
Stay away from
evade · shy away from · sidestep · steer clear of · dodge
opposition vs. alignment
go up againstteam up with
Form a partnership
side with · support · back · stand with · assist