Tonight's game will 'pit' Smith 'against' Johnson for the championship. [=Smith will be playing against Johnson for the championship in tonight's game]
The game requires you to 'pit your wits against' the computer. [=to use your wits to try to defeat the computer]
I usually like her movies, but her most recent one is really 'the pits'! [=her most recent one is terrible]
(..) Father Godwin, we must try to stop him. Yes. Come. You have dared to defy a king! You shall join Ragnar in the pit. I want all here to see the reward... for such defiance. Your Majesty, I would ask you to bear in mind... (..)1958 The Vikings
(..) We have a special reward which is rather entertaining... in a noisy way. What's that? It's nothing much... just a pit full of wolves half-mad with starvation... and trained to appreciate the flavor of human blood. You see? The English are civilized! (..)1958 The Vikings