toile de fond — meaning in English

English meaning

• backdrop noun A large painted cloth or screen hung behind a stage set.
• backstory noun The background history of a person or character that explains who they are and why they act as they do, even though it isn't shown directly.

Senses

toile de fond is used for these senses in English:

• backdrop A decorated cloth hung at the back of a stage.
• backstory The previous experiences and life of a person, specifically (narratology, especially in, _, film, television) a character in a dramatic work.

backdrop — full definition

1. noun A large painted cloth or screen hung behind a stage set.
2. noun The circumstances or setting against which events take place.
3. verb To serve as a background for something.

backstory — full definition

1. noun The background history of a person or character that explains who they are and why they act as they do, even though it isn't shown directly.
2. noun A made-up personal history someone tells others to hide their real past or intentions.

Related French words