From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgo against somebody/something phrasal verb1 DIFFERENTif something goes against your beliefs, principles etc, it is opposite to them This goes against everything I’ve been brought up to believe in. I often have to make decisions that go against the grain (=are not what I would normally choose to do).2 DIFFERENTto do the opposite of what someone wants or advises you to do She was scared to go against her father’s wishes.3 DECIDEif a decision, judgment etc goes against you, you do not get the result you want His lawyer hinted that the case might go against him. The vote went against the government. → go→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
go against • It goes against calls from the London Chamber of Commerce which wants at least 1000 more free parking spaces for bikes.• If there is not, or if it went against him, what would his next move be?• This linguistic hierarchy went against my grain.• However it goes against the grain to tell them anything.• In 1654 a council decision went against the Lutheran petitioners.• The case has gone against the Pings, but it was a rude shock in a world of gentlemen.• No one dared to go against the rules; to do so would mean punishment for everyone in the village.• The goal with the Louisas of the world is to help them learn how to go against their natural tendency.go against the grain• Granted, that goes against the grain.• Greg Dively is one woodworker who really goes against the grain.• Once again, Silverton goes against the grain by making her meringue smooth and flat instead of fluffy and high.• It goes against the grain, doesn't it?• The demanding style adopted by the chief executive and his team went against the grain of the board's traditional culture.• However, it goes against the grain to have to say this, as it is our land after all.• It went against the grain to have to tell others how to behave.• However it goes against the grain to tell them anything. 