compete against (someone or something)

compete against (someone or something)

To work or put forth effort against someone or something in an attempt to do something successfully. I'm probably competing against a hundred people for this job. Instead of competing against the loud music out here, let's go inside and talk. I refuse to compete against a bunch of other girls for a guy's affections. If he likes someone more than me, then I need to move on.

See also: compete

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

compete against someone

to contend against someone; to play against someone in a game or contest. I don't see how I can compete against all of them. She refused to compete against her own brothers.

See also: compete

compete against something

to struggle against something; to seem to be in a contest with something. It was hard to be heard. I was competing against the noise of construction. Please stop talking. I do not wish to compete against the audience when I lecture.

See also: compete

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.