backstory

histoire personnelle, passé

Événements passés de la vie de quelqu’un qui expliquent sa situation actuelle, notamment pour un personnage fictif.

En anglais simple : The earlier events in someone’s life that explain their present situation, especially for a fictional character.

• The film explains her backstory.
• Each character has a different backstory.
• His childhood appears later in the backstory.

Comment l'utiliser : the backstory of someone/something (The novel reveals the backstory of the detective.)

Synonymes : background, personal history

Expressions courantes : character backstory, tragic backstory, backstory of someone

histoire de couverture

Histoire personnelle inventée pour cacher le véritable passé ou les intentions de quelqu’un.

En anglais simple : A made-up personal history used to hide someone’s real past or purpose.

• The spy invented a backstory.
• Her false backstory included a job in Paris.
• He practiced his backstory before meeting the suspect.

Synonymes : cover story

Expressions courantes : false backstory, convincing backstory, invent a backstory