behind the spots

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "behind the spots" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are referring to something that is located or hidden at the back of spots or marks, possibly in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The treasure was hidden behind the spots on the old map, waiting to be discovered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But even as they choose from among the Republican presidential candidates, voters haven't been able to find out who is really behind the spots – who has been putting up the big money it takes to make and air these messages.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It is from April Bloomfield, the chef behind the Spotted Pig, the Breslin and the John Dory Oyster Bar.

The New York Times - Food

Today, a tree glows with golden leaves directly behind the spot where Ryan Shay died.

The New York Times

They squeezed into a spot midway along 47th Street, just behind the spot where another Iranian protest group was deep into faux whippings and hangings.

The New York Times

She arrived in 2004 as the kitchen force behind the Spotted Pig, in Greenwich Village, helping to deliver Manhattan its first true experience of a British gastropub.

The New York Times - Food

Following a tip off, a photographer from the paper captured him with fellow film maker Elliot Simpson and Luke Ubanski, who is behind the Spot Northampton Clown Facebook page, walking into a flat in regular clothes.

Independent

But Kravitz was relegated to the Hans Christian Andersen statue, directly behind the spot that the birders had been banished to, so he lounged in the storyteller's lap while his crew filmed him eating a chocolate Popsicle.

The New Yorker

On my recent trip to New York, for example, I had dinner at Salvation Burger, the new venture from cult British chef April Bloomfield and restaurateur Ken Friedman, the team behind the Spotted Pig and the Breslin, among others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Scrawled on the wall behind the spot where Mr. Pedrosa fell when a single bullet tore through the back of his skull is blood-red graffiti in Basque saying: "E.T.A., we are behind you".

The New York Times

Item (c) states that "if the recovery or catch is by a teammate of the player who fumbled, the ball is dead, and the spot of the next snap is the spot of the fumble, or the spot of the recovery if the spot of the recovery is behind the spot of the fumble".

The New York Times - Sports

But is there deeper meaning behind the spot?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "behind the spots", ensure the context clearly defines what the "spots" are referring to, whether they are physical marks, advertising spots, or something else entirely, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "behind the spots" without providing clear context for what the "spots" are. Otherwise, readers might misinterpret your intended meaning. Be specific and clear about what you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "behind the spots" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, often indicating a location relative to specified "spots". Ludwig provides examples showing its use in describing physical positions, as well as the entities funding advertising.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

24%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "behind the spots" functions as a prepositional phrase that usually indicates a location relative to some specified "spots". As Ludwig shows, this can be a physical location or can refer to the entities responsible for specific advertising spots. The usage is generally neutral in register, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts. Ludwig's AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and the phrase is usable in written English, as long as the context clearly defines what the "spots" are referring to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the area behind the markings

Emphasizes a specific area rather than a general location, using "area" instead of "spot".

at the rear of the points

Replaces "spots" with "points" and uses "rear" instead of "behind", changing the descriptive words while keeping the core meaning.

concealed by the marks

Focuses on the act of concealment rather than just physical location.

the reason for the advertisements

Shifts the meaning from physical location to the cause or motivation "behind" advertisements (if "spots" refers to ads).

responsible for the commercials

Similar to the previous, this focuses on agency rather than location if spots are ads or commercials.

in the wake of the locations

Implies something following or resulting from specific locations.

following the marks

Suggests a sequence or order related to the marks, rather than just a position.

further back than the locations

Emphasizes the distance or depth relative to the spots.

in the back of the blemishes

Replaces "spots" with "blemishes", slightly changing the context to imply imperfections or marks.

originating from the advertisements

If "spots" refers to ads, this alternative shifts the focus to the origin or source of those ads.

FAQs

How can I use "behind the spots" in a sentence?

You can use "behind the spots" to describe a location or cause. For example, "The treasure was hidden behind the spots on the old map" refers to a location. "The political action committee "responsible for the commercials"" refers to an agency.

What does "behind the spots" mean when referring to advertising?

In the context of advertising, "behind the spots" typically refers to the people, organizations, or funding sources "responsible for the commercials".

Which is a better way to say "behind the spots": "at the back of the spots" or "in the shadows of the spots"?

"At the back of the spots" is a more direct synonym, indicating a physical location. "In the shadows of the spots" implies concealment or obscurity.

What's a good alternative to "behind the spots" when referring to the reason or cause of something?

If you're referring to the underlying reason or cause, you could use phrases like "the reason for" or "responsible for" instead of "behind the spots".