A number of French verbs require the preposition contre in front of a noun or stressed pronoun.
| *aboyer contre quelqu’un* | to bark/yell at someone |
|---|---|
| s’abriter contre (le vent, la pluie) | to take shelter against (the wind, rain) |
| *acculer quelqu’un contre qqch* | to drive someone back to/against |
| *s’acharner contre quelqu’un* | to dog, hound; to have one’s knife into |
| *adosser contre* | to stand/lean against |
| *agir contre l’avis (de quelqu’un)* | to act against (someone’s) advice |
| agir contre les ordres | to act against orders |
| *aguerrir quelqu’un contre* | to harden / inure someone to |
| *aller contre le courant* | to go against the current |
| aller contre le vent | to go into the wind |
| s’appuyer contre (un arbre, mur) | to lean against (a tree, wall) |
| *s’asseoir contre (qqun)* | to sit next to (someone) |
| se battre contre | to fight against |
| *se blottir contre (qqun)* | to cuddle next to (someone) |
| se cogner la tête contre le mur | to bang one’s head against the wall |
| *donner (qqch) contre (qqch)* | to give (something) in exchange for (something) |
| *échanger (qqch) contre (qqch)* | to exchange (something) for (something) |
| *être contre* | to be against, disagree with |
| être en colère contre | to be mad/angry at |
| être juste contre qqch | to be right next to something |
| se fâcher contre | to get mad/angry at |
| *faire grève contre* | to strike against |
| *heurter contre* | to stumble/knock/bang against |
| *manifester contre* | to protest against |
| se mettre contre (le mur, la porte) | to stand against (the wall, door) |
| *nager contre le courant* | to swim against the current |
| *prendre le contre-pied* | to take the opposing view / course |
| prendre parti contre | to side against |
| *serrer qqun contre son cœur / sa poitrine* | to hug someone |
| *troquer (qqch) contre (qqch)* | to swap (something) for (something) |
| s’unir contre | to unite against |
| *voter contre* | to vote against |