0
User_gary Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Against a backdrop of war

Their love affair began against a backdrop of war.

Can you please tell me what "against" means in this context?

I know backdrop of war means "in the happening of war".
  

Top answer

I take it as a sort of metaphorical reference to the stage. A backdrop would be a sort of curtain which may be dropped down behind the actors, on which scenery is depicted. The actors play their parts "against" this scenery.

— Avangi

  • I take it as a sort of metaphorical reference to the stage.
  • A backdrop would be a sort of curtain which may be dropped down behind the actors, on which scenery is depicted.
  • The actors play their parts "against" this scenery.
  • The love affair is between two people, but the metaphorical scenery in the background is "the happening of war," as you put it.
  • The preposition "against" in this case does not indicate a conflict, but simple proximity.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
I take it as a sort of metaphorical reference to the stage. A backdrop would be a sort of curtain which may be dropped down behind the actors, on which scenery is depicted. The actors play their parts "against" this scenery.

The love affair is between two people, but the metaphorical scenery in the background is "the happening of war," as you put it.

The preposition "against"
0
0
Backdrop is actually a painted piece of cloth that is hung behind the stage in a theatre as part of the scenery. So in the theatres plays are enacted against certain backdrops. The expression " against the backdrop" is derived from the oriinal usage of te word " backdrop" .That is why we " against"

with "backdrop".
0

Related Questions