Collocations for background - noun
1. type of family/social class sb comes from
ADJ.
broad, narrow
It is important to have a broad educational background.
It is important to have a broad educational background.
mixed | privileged, wealthy | deprived, disadvantaged, poor | middle class, upper class, working class | academic, class, cultural, educational, ethnic, family, military, professional, religious, social, socio-economic
VERB + BACKGROUND
come from, have
He came from a very privileged background.
He came from a very privileged background.
be drawn from
The students are drawn from very mixed social backgrounds.
The students are drawn from very mixed social backgrounds.
BACKGROUND + VERB
be in sth
Her background was in biology and medicine.
Her background was in biology and medicine.
PREP.
from a ~
children from deprived backgrounds
children from deprived backgrounds
with a ~
an economist with a background in business
an economist with a background in business
~ in
PHRASES
a range/variety of backgrounds
2. facts connected with a situation/event
ADJ.
general | factual | cultural, economic, historical, political, technical
VERB + BACKGROUND
describe, give (sb), outline, provide (sb with)
The book provides the background to the revolution.
The book provides the background to the revolution.
form
Those discussions formed the background to the decision.
Those discussions formed the background to the decision.
BACKGROUND + NOUN
information, knowledge, reading
background information on the country
background information on the country
PREP.
against the ~
Against that general background I shall give you a more detailed view of current medical practice.
Against that general background I shall give you a more detailed view of current medical practice.
~ to
the technical background to the report
the technical background to the report
3. part of a view/picture behind the main parts
PREP.
against a/the ~
The areas of water stood out against the dark background.
The areas of water stood out against the dark background.
in the ~
The mountains in the background were capped with snow.
The mountains in the background were capped with snow.
on a/the ~
bright blue on a red background
bright blue on a red background
4. position in which sb/sth is not important/noticed
VERB + BACKGROUND
blend into, fade into, melt/merge into, recede/retreat into, slip into
The dispute over the new contract allowed her other problems to fade into the background. | He had learnt how to melt invisibly into the background.
The dispute over the new contract allowed her other problems to fade into the background. | He had learnt how to melt invisibly into the background.
keep/remain/stay in
He prefers to remain in the background and let his assistant deal with the press.
He prefers to remain in the background and let his assistant deal with the press.
hover in
I could see my secretary hovering in the background.
I could see my secretary hovering in the background.
BACKGROUND + NOUN
music, noise, radiation
PREP.
in the ~
There was a radio on in the background.
There was a radio on in the background.