chalk against
C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words
To blame or count something bad against someone, like writing it down as a mark against them.
Literal meaning: To write something in chalk on one side opposing someone — like keeping a negative score on a chalkboard.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
formal
To record or assign a negative point, fault, or blame to someone's account.
"The referee chalked the foul against the home team."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
This phrasal verb is largely archaic or dialectal and rarely used in modern English. It survives mostly in historical texts or very formal written registers. Most native speakers would use 'hold against' or 'count against' instead.
Commonly used with
fault mistake error failure shortcoming
Forms
Base
chalk against
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chalks against
he/she/it
Past simple
chalked against
yesterday
Past participle
chalked against
have + pp
-ing form
chalking against
continuous
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Synonyms
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