operate against (someone or something)
To work to the detriment or disadvantage of someone or something; to produce a negative impact or effect on someone or something. Contrary to the way it was billed, the new tax law operates against most middle- and lower-class workers. All of the boss's decisions have been operating against our project lately.
operate against someone or something
to work against someone or something; to have a negative effect on someone or something. All of this operates against our idea affixing the garage up as a family room. The new vacation policy operates against my plan to take all of July off.