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Question

Difficulty: MediumCollocations and Fixed Phrases

During the international trade symposium, the diplomat was careful not to ________ umbrage at the host country's sharp criticisms of the newly proposed tariffs. Which word correctly completes the fixed expression?

  1. takeAnswer
  2. B
    feel
  3. C
    express
  4. D
    hold

Answer

The correct word is 'take', completing the fixed idiomatic expression 'take umbrage at'.
The established fixed phrase in standard English is 'take umbrage at', which signifies taking offense or feeling slighted by a statement or action.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target phrase within the sentence framework.
The sentence requires a verb that collocates specifically with 'umbrage at'.
English fixed phrases rely on conventionalized verb-noun combinations that cannot be substituted arbitrarily.
2
Evaluate standard idiomatic usage of the noun 'umbrage'.
'Umbrage' conventionalizes exclusively with the verb 'take' when expressing offense or annoyance.
Phrases like 'feel umbrage' or 'express umbrage' are non-standard combinations in idiomatic British English.

Key Concept

Fixed Verb-Noun Collocations
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Topics

Collocations and Fixed Phrases

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