What Does “Slant against sb” Mean?
“Slant against sb” means to present information or opinions in a way that is biased or unfairly negative toward someone.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “slant against sb” is often used when discussing how information or opinions are presented in a biased manner. When something is slanted against someone, it means the portrayal or view is unfairly negative or prejudiced toward that person. Understanding the “slant against sb meaning” helps learners recognize bias in communication and use the phrase accurately in everyday conversations or writing.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: slant against somebody
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to show unfair bias or negativity toward someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Slant against sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means you cannot separate the verb and the particle with an object. The structure is always:
- slant against + somebody
Examples of correct patterns:
- The report slants against the new manager.
- They slanted the story against her.
How to Use Slant against sb?
Use “slant against sb” when you want to describe a situation where information, opinions, or statements are unfairly biased or negative toward a person. It is commonly used in discussions about media, reports, or arguments where fairness is questioned.
Examples
When reading news articles, you might notice some slant against certain politicians. This means the article is not neutral but favors one side unfairly.
- The article slanted against the CEO, making her look incompetent.
- Many viewers felt the documentary slanted against the local government.
- The editor was accused of slanting the review against the actor.
- Some critics say the film slants against minorities unfairly.
- Her speech slanted against the opposition party.
These examples show how “slant against sb” is used to describe bias or unfair negativity.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse “slant against sb” with similar phrases or try to separate “slant” and “against”. Here are common mistakes:
- Incorrect: They slanted the story her against.
- Correct: They slanted the story against her.
- Incorrect: The article slanted her against.
- Correct: The article slanted against her.
Remember, “slant against” always stays together, followed by the person or group.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “bias against sb,” “prejudice against sb,” and “turn against sb.” However, “slant against sb” specifically refers to how information or opinions are presented unfairly. “Bias” and “prejudice” describe attitudes, while “turn against sb” means to stop supporting someone.
Common Collocations
We often see “slant against sb” used with words related to communication or opinions. Here are common collocations:
- Slant against the media: showing bias in news or reports
- Slant against a politician: unfair negative portrayal of a political figure
- Slant against a company: biased criticism of a business
- Slant against a group: unfair negative opinion about a community
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of slant against sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Two friends discuss a recent news report:
Anna: Did you read the article about the mayor?
Ben: Yes, it seemed to slant against him. It didn’t mention any of his good work.
Anna: I agree. The report was clearly biased.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using “slant against sb”:
- A) The newspaper slanted the story against the mayor.
- B) The newspaper slanted the story the mayor against.
- C) The newspaper slanted against the story mayor.
Answer: A
FAQ
- What does “slant against sb” mean? It means to show unfair bias or negativity toward someone.
- Is “slant against sb” separable? No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Can “slant against” be used for groups? Yes, it can refer to bias against individuals or groups.
- What is the difference between “slant against” and “bias against”? “Slant against” focuses on presenting information unfairly, while “bias against” refers to an unfair attitude.
- Is “slant against sb” formal or informal? It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
