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."
separable
chalk against
C1 formal separable transitive
To record or attribute something as a fault or disadvantage against someone.
In plain English
To blame or count something bad against someone, like writing it down as a mark against them.
What does "chalk against" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To write something in chalk on one side opposing someone — like keeping a negative score on a chalkboard.
Actually means
To blame or count something bad against someone, like writing it down as a mark against them.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "chalk against"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fault mistake error failure shortcoming
How to conjugate "chalk against"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "chalk against" in the wild
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Other ways to say "chalk against"
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