against
The French word 'contre' translates to 'against' in English. It's commonly used in a similar context, such as in expressing opposition or resistance (e.g., 'Je suis contre cette idée' meaning 'I am against this idea'), or when indicating contact with a surface (e.g., 'Le livre est contre le mur' meaning 'The book is against the wall').
I am against violence.
This is a simplest way of using 'contre', which translates as 'against' in English. You can use it to express disagreement or opposition towards something, in this case, 'violence'.
The ball fell against the wall.
'Contre' can also describe physical contact or collision with a surface. Here, it is used to signify that the ball hit ('fell against') the wall.
He exchanged my watch for his.
'Contre' can be used to indicate exchange or trade of one thing for another, as in this example where a watch is exchanged.
I am going to bet against them.
In this context, 'contre' is used to indicate opposition or competition, as in a bet or gamble. It signifies that the speaker is betting in opposition to 'them'.
We struggled against the wind.
'Contre' expresses opposition or adversity in a situation. In this case, the phrase suggests difficulty moving or advancing due to the wind.
They played against the champion team.
Here, 'contre' is used to describe competition, as it signifies that one team is playing in opposition to another.
She voted against the proposal.
'Contre' is used here in the context of expressing disagreement or disapproval by means of a vote. It denotes that the subject of the sentence voted in opposition to the proposal.
He traded his drawing for a sandwich.
In this sentence, 'contre' is used to denote an exchange or trade. The phrase implies a swap of a drawing for a sandwich.
I have an allergy to cats.
'Contre' is often used to denote an adverse reaction to something, which in this case is an allergic reaction to cats. Even though the English translation uses 'to', 'contre' is the appropriate term in French.
His actions go against the current.
'Contre' in 'à contre-courant' represents the idea of going against the norm or commonly accepted direction. It implies opposition to the dominant trend or opinion.