word choice - Against and Towards can be same?


After I found this website, I have a chance to ask questions I used to hesitate to use in a sentence as I am not a native English speaker even though I am really interested in learning English.


Anyways,


Can these sentences be legit and give the same meaning?



  1. I feel something towards her.

  2. I feel something against her.


Do they have same meaning and also where can we not use against and towards interchangeably if we can use them interchangeably sometimes.


Edit:


Okay, it seems while feelings are coming to play they cause different meaning but where can I not use them interchangeably when there is no feelings involved?



Answer



Against and towards can be used interchangeably in some circumstances, but I don't think this is one of them. In this case, towards would imply affection and against would imply distate or dislike.


An example of a situation where they could be used interchangeably would be "Please apply the overpayment against/towards my existing credit card balance."


As for a rule, I'm not sure there is one. Maybe if emotions are involved, don't use them interchangeably but if there are no feelings involved, then it is ok to do so


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