clash with someone

Meaning

This expression means to have a strong disagreement, conflict, or incompatibility with another person. It can refer to a sharp, one-time argument or an ongoing personality conflict where two people simply do not get along.

Examples

• I tend to clash with my manager over how projects should be managed.

  I tend to clash with my manager over how projects should be managed.

• They used to clash with each other constantly when they shared an office.

  They used to clash with each other constantly when they shared an office.

• It is normal for siblings to clash with each other from time to time.

  It is normal for siblings to clash with each other from time to time.

• She resigned because she continued to clash with the creative director.

  She resigned because she continued to clash with the creative director.

• I try to avoid discussing politics because I always clash with my uncle.

  I try to avoid discussing politics because I always clash with my uncle.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I clashed against my coworker yesterday.

  ✓ I clashed with my coworker yesterday.

  The correct preposition to use with 'clash' when referring to disagreements between people is 'with', not 'against'.

• ✗ They clash themselves all the time.

  ✓ They clash all the time.

  'Clash' is an intransitive verb in this context and does not take a reflexive pronoun. You do not clash 'yourself'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I always seem to ___ with my brother whenever we talk about money.

  💡 to conflict or disagree strongly

  Show answer

  clash

• He decided to leave the team after he ___ with the head coach.

  💡 past tense of clash

  Show answer

  clashed