Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“I thought it would make me look more intimidating…You see a freshman in high school and he has a mustache-I don’t want to go up against that guy.”
- Actor Steve Carrell on growing facial hair (Us Weekly)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
fight or compete with
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
Uh oh, you made someone angry. He wants to fight you. Suddenly the rumor starts going all around the school: There’s a fight today! English Learner is going up against the Bully!
You don’t have to go up against an actual person. It could be more abstract. You could go up against your friend’s vegetarianism when you try to convince her to eat the steak you just made. Or you could go up against your colleagues’ racism when they discriminate against you because of the color of your skin.
Steve Carrell is making a joke about his facial hair. He thinks it makes him look like someone that’s scary, or intimidating. However, he wouldn’t even want to go up against a teenager with a mustache, so he might not be that intimidating, after all.
When was the last time you went up against someone or something? What happened?
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“I’ve been training for months. I’m ready to go up against the best wrestler now!”
“I’m going to go up against your snobby taste in movies and insist that we watch a rom-com!”
“I’ve gone up against your stubbornness before. I’m over it.”