英语短语set against是一个多义动词短语,核心含义围绕“将A与B关联(对比、对立、抵消或衬托)”,具体用法需结合语境区分。以下是常见含义及示例:
强调“将两个事物放在一起比较”,突出差异或平衡。
Set the advantages of the new job against the disadvantages before you decide.(决定前先权衡新工作的利弊。)
She set her own painting against the master’s to see where she needed to improve.(她把自己的画和大师的对比,看看哪里需要改进。)
常用be set against sth/sb 结构,表“坚决反对某人/某事”。
My parents are set against me dropping out of college.(我父母坚决反对我辍学。)
He’s always been set against the idea of working from home.(他一直反对居家办公的想法。)
常用于描述图像、场景或故事的背景设定,让主体更突出。
The filmmaker set the love story against the backdrop of World War II.(导演将爱情故事置于二战背景下。)
The red dress sets her against the neutral walls of the room.(红色连衣裙让她在房间的素色墙壁衬托下更显眼。)
多用于财务、成本或影响的平衡,表“用一个事物抵消另一个的负面效果”。
The company’s profits were set against its massive debts.(公司的利润抵消了巨额债务。)
His hard work set against his lack of experience made him a strong candidate.(他的努力抵消了经验不足的缺点,使他成为有力候选人。)
表“故意让两人/群体产生矛盾”。
Don’t let anyone set you against your siblings.(别让任何人挑唆你和兄弟姐妹对立。)
The manager’s unfair treatment set the team against each other.(经理的不公平待遇让团队内部互相敌视。)
主动 vs 被动:
主动:set A against B(对比/衬托/对立/抵消);
被动:be set against sth/sb(反对)。
介词搭配:
后接名词/代词(如set against the wall);
若接从句,需加that(如He’s set against that we move,但更常见He’s set against our moving)。
“set against”的核心是“建立A与B的关联”,具体是“对比、反对、衬托、抵消还是对立”,需看语境。记住基础结构set A against B,结合上下文就能快速判断含义~