Umbrage 聽起來好像應該是指遮陽的陰影,但它卻常出現在人感到不耐、被冒犯的情境中。這種落差,正是為什麼這個片語聽起來特別尖銳的線索。
umbrage 一詞源自拉丁文 umbra(陰影、影子),經由法文傳入英文;在英文中,它逐漸發展出比喻義,把「影子」引申為猜疑、不滿、怨懟或被冒犯的感受。片語 to take umbrage 至少從 17 世紀(1600 年代)起就用來表示「覺得被冒犯」,彷彿某句話「在心情上投下一道陰影」。
如今,to take umbrage 的意思是因某事而感到受冒犯、不悅或心生怨氣(常見於針對某句話、批評或自覺被輕慢)。它帶點正式語氣,常用在書面語或較禮貌的談話中。
應用
• 使用頻率:6/10
• 適用場合:Casual
例句
• When Jason teased her about missing the deadline, she took umbrage and refused to speak to him for the rest of the day.
(當傑森拿她沒準時交報告開玩笑時,她覺得被冒犯了,整天不搭理他。)
• She took umbrage when her colleague implied she wasn’t working hard enough.
(她同事暗示她工作不夠努力,她聽了心裡很不舒服。)
• She really took umbrage when her boss corrected her report in front of the whole team.
(她老闆當著全組的面修改她的報告,她心裡很不是滋味,覺得很受傷。)


