Words / B2

BAKDR-op/ˈbækdrɒp/

A backdrop is the cloth behind a stage, or the general situation: against a backdrop of. Background is a close twin for context; setting is more literary. Do not mix with backdrop as two words. Pay talks against a backdrop of energy bills.

Meaning

The painted cloth behind a stage; also the general situation in which something happens.

Examples

• “Pay talks opened against a backdrop of rising energy bills.”
• “The logo vanished into a busy backdrop, which is the stage-cloth sense.”

Good to know

against a backdrop of. Close: background / setting. Theatre: a painted backdrop. News metaphor. Not “on the backdrop”. Hyphen not needed as one word.

Near in meaning

background

New