I am an English native speaker working as a teacher in Germany.
When marking my pupils' essays I often encounter the phrase "to do something against something", which is as far as I know simply a direct translation of a German phrase. But I cannot find any answers in my dictionaries.
One current example: "The USA never did anything against violence."
My gut feelings says the preposition has to be about instead of against here. Is that correct?
If not, fine; but further, can against ever be used after do something?
Learn English – Preposition used after “do”
prepositional-phrases
Best Answer
It is alright to use against after do. Against simply means in opposition to, so
means
On the other hand about means with regard to, so
means