“Be a foil for” nghĩa là gì?

“Be a foil for” = làm nền -> nghĩa là so sánh với người khác và vì thế làm nổi bật đặc điểm riêng biệt của họ.

Ví dụ

During Putin’s reign, Russia has increased its role on the global stage in a remarkable way. Russia has used the advantages of being a member of the UN Security Council but it has also acted as a foil for the United States.

Rublev won Most Improved Player of the Year in last year's ATP Awards after a career-best season saw him lift a tour-leading five titles and rise to No. 8 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. But he’ll have a battle on his hands against Japan’s No. 2 Nishioka, whose speed around the court could prove to be a foil for Rublev's aggressive play. Nishioka leads their Head2Head after winning their only previous encounter at 2019 Sydney.

The show Xena was originally a spinoff (lợi ích phụ) of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Xena first appeared as a recurring character whose dark and tortured past served as a foil for Hercules, and was originally slated to die. The producers witnessed her popularity, however, and deemed the character worthy of her own show. The decision paid off, and Xena: Warrior Princess saw enormous popularity, soaring past the success of its predecessor and becoming the top-rated syndicated drama on American television in its second season. The story of the complex, ferocious, and seemingly impervious warrior seeking redemption for past wrongs gripped viewers for six seasons until its cancellation in October of 2000.

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