umbrage

/ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈʌmbrɪdʒ] /ˈʌmbrɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈʌmbrɪdʒ] /ˈəm-brij How to pronounce umbrage (audio)/ (ame, mw)

umbrage — noun

1. a feeling of being offended, annoyed, or upset because you believe someone has t

1.名詞C1
釋義

a feeling of being offended, annoyed, or upset because you believe someone has treated you with a lack of respect — in modern English this word is almost always used in the fixed phrase 'take umbrage'

例句

Eliska took umbrage at a remark her colleague made during the team meeting.

fixed phrase: take umbrage at + noun phrase

Tara heard the remark but did not take umbrage, knowing none was meant.

negative construction: did not take umbrage

同義詞
  • offense

    more general and common; can be used in everyday speech ('take offense') whereas 'take umbrage' sounds more formal and literary

  • resentment

    a stronger, longer-lasting feeling of bitterness about a past event, not just a momentary reaction

  • pique

    a slightly literary word for a feeling of wounded pride; similar register to 'umbrage' but rarer

反義詞
  • pleasure

    the opposite emotional response — feeling good rather than offended

  • satisfaction

    contentment with what has been said or done, the opposite of taking offense

文法句型

take umbrage + at/over + noun phrase

take umbrage + at/over + being + past participle

用法筆記

Frequently passive in the 'take' construction: 'umbrage was taken at...' is possible but very formal. The object of the feeling follows 'at' or 'over'. This sense does not exist without the verb 'take' in modern English — you cannot say 'I felt umbrage' in natural usage.

常見錯誤

❌He felt umbrage at her words.
✅He took umbrage at her words.
💡the word only appears naturally in the fixed phrase 'take umbrage', not alone with 'feel'.
❌She took umbrage of his tone.
✅She took umbrage at his tone.
💡use 'at' or 'over', not 'of'.