Basic Details
Word: Vis-a-vis
Part of Speech: Preposition; Noun
Meaning: In relation to; face to face; or a person or thing that is compared to another.
Synonyms: Regarding, in relation to, counterpart
Antonyms: Apart from, away from
Idioms and Phrases
- Vis-a-vis the situation: Regarding a particular situation or in relation to it. Example: "Vis-a-vis the situation we discussed yesterday, we need to make a quick decision."
- Vis-a-vis each other: When two items, people, or ideas are directly compared or placed against one another. Example: "The two proposals were examined vis-a-vis each other before making a choice."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The teacher wanted to discuss the students' progress vis-a-vis their performance in the last exam.
Example 2: The company held a meeting to talk about the new strategies vis-a-vis their competitors.
Example 3: When comparing two stories vis-a-vis their themes, we found many similarities.
Fun Fact
Did you know that "vis-a-vis" is a French expression meaning "face to face"? It is often used in English to indicate a comparison or relationship between two subjects.
Famous Quote
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Henry David Thoreau. (This quote relates to comparing perspectives vis-a-vis the way we interpret our surroundings.)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "vis-a-vis" mean?
a) To run away
b) In relation to
c) To fly high
d) To play games
Answer: b) In relation to
2. Which of these is a synonym for "vis-a-vis"?
a) Regarding
b) Linguistic
c) Abroad
d) Quickly
Answer: a) Regarding
3. Which of the following is an antonym of "vis-a-vis"?
a) Close to
b) Apart from
c) Together
d) Alongside
Answer: b) Apart from
4. Which sentence uses "vis-a-vis" correctly?
a) The children played together vis-a-vis in the park.
b) She wants to compare the books vis-a-vis their authors.
c) The cat jumped over vis-a-vis the fence.
d) He sang a song vis-a-vis his friends.
Answer: b) She wants to compare the books vis-a-vis their authors.
5. Which idiom refers to comparing things directly?
a) Off the charts
b) Vis-a-vis each other
c) At the end of the day
d) As cool as a cucumber
Answer: b) Vis-a-vis each other
