against the remains

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "against the remains" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing opposition or conflict related to remnants or leftovers of something, such as in historical, archaeological, or metaphorical discussions. Example: "The activists rallied against the remains of the old factory, advocating for its demolition to make way for a new park."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

An ancient rite that continues Jesus' ministry of healing, the sacrament is directed against "the remains of sin".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Like many of his fellow rangers, Mr. Bastien, 61, takes pride in his assignment, a small, simple memorial where the wind is constant and waves still lap against the remains of the piers destroyed in the 1944 blast.

The New York Times

They quarrel, then fight, tumbling all over the dusty yard until, up against the remains of the stump over which they labored in the opening scenes, Shane knocks Starrett unconscious, says goodbye to Marian, suffers Joey's withering disdain and heads into town.

The New York Times

The triumphant allies meanwhile turned against the remains of the Royalist centre, overrunning successive units and cutting down many fugitives.

Wikipedia

Under ideal circumstances, living relatives of both Williams and Bryan could provide DNA reference samples to compare against the remains to make the final assessment, but the obstacle is Williams' name.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"My indignation against the incident remains undiminished.

The Guardian - Books

Some of those suits were dismissed, but one against the I.R.S. remains in court.

The New York Times

Some of those suits were dismissed, but one against the agency remains in court.

The New York Times

But his availability for the Knicks' first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat remains uncertain.

The New York Times

Still, the South Korean outlook — distrusting the North, but wary of U.S. intervention against the North — remains fundamentally unchanged.

The New York Times

His idiosyncratic technique against the seamers remains, advantage of which the Pakistan left-arm pacemen would surely take.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "against the remains", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being opposed or contrasted. It is often used in discussions of historical events, physical structures, or abstract concepts where something is actively resisting or being contrasted with what is left behind.

Common error

Avoid using "against the remains" when a simpler preposition like "near" or "beside" is more appropriate. This phrase implies active opposition, not mere proximity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "against the remains" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier. It indicates a position of opposition or interaction with what is left of something. Ludwig highlights examples where it describes physical forces acting on remnants or resistance to the lingering effects of something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "against the remains" is used to describe opposition, interaction, or resistance towards what is left of something. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct but has limited usage, making it relatively rare. It is generally suited for neutral to formal contexts such as news reporting, encyclopedic entries, and analytical discussions where the focus is on physical forces or resistance to lingering effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in opposition to the remnants

Replaces "against" with "in opposition to" and "remains" with "remnants", altering the prepositional structure while retaining the core meaning of resisting what is left.

opposing the remnants

Directly conveys the idea of being against the remnants

contrary to the leftovers

Substitutes "against" with "contrary to" and "remains" with "leftovers", emphasizing a conflicting stance against what is remaining or unused.

resisting the vestiges

Uses "resisting" as an active verb in place of the prepositional phrase, and "vestiges" to convey the sense of remaining traces or signs.

combating the ruins

Replaces "against" with "combating" suggesting an active fight, and "remains" with "ruins", which implies a stronger sense of destruction or decay.

battling the remnants

Similar to "combating the ruins", this suggests a more intense conflict or struggle against the remaining parts or traces.

in defiance of the debris

Emphasizes a defiant stance against scattered pieces or fragments by replacing "against" with "in defiance of" and "remains" with "debris".

challenging the ruins

The focus shifts to confronting or questioning the existence of the ruins.

standing firm against the fragments

Implies resilience and resolve when faced with broken pieces or remnants, switching "against" to "standing firm against" and "remains" to "fragments".

contending with the residue

Suggests grappling with or facing leftover substances, replacing "against" with "contending with" and "remains" with "residue".

FAQs

How can I use "against the remains" in a sentence?

Use "against the remains" to describe active opposition or a contrasting position towards what is left behind, such as "The waves crashed "against the remains" of the pier" or "The community rallied "against the remains" of the discriminatory policy".

What can I say instead of "against the remains"?

You can use alternatives like "in opposition to the remnants", "contrary to the leftovers", or "resisting the vestiges" depending on the specific context.

Is "against the remains" formal or informal language?

The phrase "against the remains" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for academic, news, and professional contexts. It is less common in informal conversation.

When is it appropriate to use "against the remains" instead of "near the remains"?

"Against the remains" implies an active interaction or opposition, while "near the remains" simply indicates proximity. Use "against" when there is a sense of force or resistance, and "near" when only location is important.