bring up against — to suddenly face someone with a problem or difficulty
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralrare
to make someone suddenly have to deal with a problem or obstacle they did not expect
Say it like a native
Textbook The project forced me to confront the limits of my own abilities.
Native The project brought me up against the limits of what I could do.
'Bring someone up against' is a compact way to say a situation forces you to confront an obstacle.
Pattern: bring (someone) up against (something)
In use
- The new manager was brought up against several unexpected challenges on her first day.daily life
- In my last job, I was brought up against tight deadlines, which taught me how to manage my time better.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I brought up against a serious problem.
✓ I came up against a serious problem. / It brought me up against a serious problem.
YOU 'come up against' a problem; with 'bring', something brings YOU up against it.
Common collocations
bring someone up against— the limits, reality, a problem, the truth
Don't confuse it
'Bring up against' is different from 'bring up' (to mention something in conversation) and 'come up against' (to encounter a problem yourself).