take umbrage

Idioms and Phrases

Feel resentment, take offense, as in Aunt Agatha is quick to take umbrage at any suggestion to do things differently . This expression features one of the rare surviving uses of umbrage , which now means “resentment” but comes from the Latin umbra , for “shade,” and presumably alludes to the “shadow” of displeasure. [Late 1600s]

Example Sentences

Well, I would take umbrage (a thing at which I excel), but for the fact that Kaufman makes some excellent points.

From The Daily Beast

He does not take umbrage at the incongruous presence of the housekeeper in a presidential suite that is still occupied.

From The Daily Beast

It would be unjust to take umbrage at the city because one finds none in its avenues.

From Project Gutenberg

It was always done so quietly and pleasantly one could hardly take umbrage.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps there were not many men in the kingdom less given to take umbrage at trifles than my father.

From Project Gutenberg

These strenuous natures are apt to take umbrage at the fact of their work being interfered with.

From Project Gutenberg

But he was careful to let drop nothing at which she might take umbrage.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dislike