<ahead of> big business

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ostap

Banned
Joined
Feb 5, 2022
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation
"It may be reasonable, for example, for pro-market conservatives to favor more vigorous antitrust enforcement to keep markets competitive even though incumbent, large businesses would be opposed. But Trump and his supporters don’t side with free markets ahead of big business — instead, they often cast their lot with big government and industrial policy."
The Washington Post

Hello, teachers. The usage of "ahead of" in this sentence looks obscure to me. I would expect something like against.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
"They don't side with free markets ahead of big business" means "They don't prioritise free markets over big business".

Changing "ahead of" to "against" doesn't work.

What do you mean by "obscure"?
 

Ostap

Banned
Joined
Feb 5, 2022
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top