by/from/through the door

[sunsail]

Hello

"she left the court by the back door" what does "by the back door" tell here?

Can I use "from/through back door"?

Thanks

 

[mgcrules]

"by the back door" would mean that there are at least two entrances, one at the front and one at the back. Leaving through the back door is usually done to avoid press or anything unwanted.
You can use "through", but I would use 'by'.

 

[sunsail]

"by the back door" would mean that there are at least two entrances, one at the front and one at the back. Leaving through the back door is usually done to avoid press or anything unwanted.
You can use "through", but I would use 'by'.

Can I say " from the back door"? could it be implying anything else ? of course I know logically if there is one back door there must be front door.

Because in my language it tells something else when you say go through the back door.You donot want anyone to see you or you secretly leave a place.

why should someone leave the court through the back door? instead of front door?

Best Regards

 

[shawnee]

As mgcrules has stated there is no double entendre in the use of 'by the back door here.' While there can be instances where there is an implied meaning where someone attains high office by unofficial means ie. 'by the back door' that is not the case here and need not be avoided for fear of misinterpretation.

 

[sunsail]

Thanks
Can I say " from the back door"?

 

[shawnee]

You can, but it is not as good as 'by'. An argument supporting this view escapes me for the moment.

 

[startrack]

'by' is better, that's what I heard in University.
It appears to me that if you use 'from', the person you are talking with must stand outside of the court. It is weird if you talk with a guy who sitting inside the court by using the world 'from'
ps:not 100% sure.

 

[GreenWhiteBlue]

The word "from" would sound very odd here, and I would not use it. If you really do not like "by", you could make it "by means of" instead, but "by" is better and perfectly natural (unlike the very strange "from".)

 

[shawnee]

When I said "You can" in post 6, I meant, 'since you are adamant on its use,' I wasn't really recommending it.

 

[a little edgy]

From the point of view of those inside the courtroom, she can enter "from the back door"; but leaving "from the back door" is idiomatic only if the point of reference is outside the building. "She was able to avoid the press by leaving from the back door." This works (barely - by or through would be more common choices) because the press are outside the courtroom. To those inside, she left by or through, but never from, the back door.

The reverse is also true. To those paparazzi outside the courtroom, she enters the room by or through the back door, but not from it. In other words, in this context, "from" suggests that the person is approaching the reference point of the speaker/narrator. "She emerged from the front door to greet the waiting throng."

 

[sunsail]

From the point of view of those inside the courtroom, she can enter "from the back door"; but leaving "from the back door" is idiomatic only if the point of reference is outside the building. "She was able to avoid the press by leaving from the back door." This works (barely - by or through would be more common choices) because the press are outside the courtroom. To those inside, she left by or through, but never from, the back door.

The reverse is also true. To those paparazzi outside the courtroom, she enters the room by or through the back door, but not from it. In other words, in this context, "from" suggests that the person is approaching the reference point of the speaker/narrator. "She emerged from the front door to greet the waiting throng."

Thanks edgy for your brief explanation I was looking for idiomatic example.