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Soheil1 Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Pit against

Hi.
What's the difference between
chess enables me to engage in a physically safe but psychologically strenuous battle in which I pit my wits against those of my opponent.
and
chess enables me to engage in a physically safe but psychologically strenuous battle in which I challenge my wits against those of my opponent.

?Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

com/definition/english/wit ) "challenge one's wits against" does not sound very natural to me. Google hits are no more than noise-level.

— GPY

  • com/definition/english/wit ) "challenge one's wits against" does not sound very natural to me.
  • Google hits are no more than noise-level.
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5 Answers
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"pit one's wits against" is a set expression meaning "compete mentally with" (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/wit)

"challenge one's wits against" does not sound very natural to me. Google hits are no more than noise-level.
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The difference is only that it is not idiomatic? No other difference?
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I suppose it would be understood to mean roughly the same. However, on close examination it does not properly make sense in my opinion.
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The object of the verb "challenge" is normally something that is being opposed (e.g. "challenge an opponent", "challenge someone's authority", "challenge a conclusion" etc.). The meaning can extend to the object being something that is tested or tried, as in "this challenges my ability to concentrate", and it is conceivable that something external could "challenge one's wits" in a similar way. How
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