From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpit somebody/something against somebody/something phrasal verbCOMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEATto test someone’s strength, ability, power etc in a competition or fight against someone or something else We’ll be pitting our team against the champions.pit your wits against somebody (=compete against someone using your intelligence or knowledge) Pit your wits against family or friends!pit yourself against something/somebody The men had to pit themselves against the forces of nature. → pit→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
pit against • Surely he must have realised that he was pitting himself against a concern of considerable strength.• Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines.• Why do they pit themselves against each other?• One hopes we will find a better way than pitting outsiders against outsiders.• The other women's quarters pitted Martina Hingis against Serena Williams, and Venus Williams against Amanda Coetzer.• Republicans had second thoughts about pitting him against the amiable Clinton, but it was too late in the primary game.• Like his father, when he pitted himself against the physical world, he could almost feel who he was.• The consolation Stableford event pits fathers against their offspring and who can blame the organisers for combining the Sparrows and the Larks.pit your wits against somebody• Jill and Oz will pit their wits against each other, as they try to identify mystery wines. 