To "take something amiss" means to be offended by something, to misunderstand it, or to interpret it in a way that causes you to feel hurt or insulted. It's about how a person receives information, rather than the sender's intent. The phrase emphasizes a subjective reaction to something said or done.
The origin of "amiss" dates back to Middle English, meaning "wrongly" or "improperly." The phrase itself has been in use for centuries, reflecting a long-standing human sensitivity to perceived slights and misunderstandings.
The register is generally neutral to slightly formal. It's not overly colloquial but isn't strictly reserved for formal settings either.
The phrase "take something amiss" typically appears in the following forms:
It can be used in questions, but it's less common. For example: "Would you take it amiss if I offered some constructive criticism?"
It sounds unnatural to use a more literal or modern rephrasing of "amiss." For instance, saying "take something incorrectly" lacks the idiomatic weight and nuance of the original phrase.
These examples are sourced from take something amiss on Ludwig.guru.
"Don't take anything here amiss!" — The New Yorker
"I took this amiss." — The Guardian
"No one seemed to take it amiss." — The New Yorker
"After intermission Mr. Haas took the stage to conduct Brahms's Symphony No. 4, then noticed something amiss and excused himself." — The New York Times
"One reason that no one in the United States suspected there might be something amiss was the sheer magnitude of the risks he took." — The New Yorker
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/take+something+amiss
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| be offended by | A direct and common alternative. |
| misunderstand | Focuses on the cognitive aspect of incorrect interpretation. |
| take offense | Similar in meaning, but slightly more active; implies a deliberate choice to be offended. |
| be insulted by | Stronger connotation; implies a more direct and intentional affront. |
| get the wrong end of the stick | More informal and colloquial; suggests a complete misunderstanding. |
| feel slighted | Emphasizes the feeling of being disrespected or undervalued. |
| interpret negatively | More formal and academic; focuses on the process of interpretation. |
| Expression | Idiomatic Meaning | Register | Avoid In |
|---|---|---|---|
| take something amiss | To be offended or misunderstand something | Neutral to slightly formal | Situations requiring very direct or informal language |
"Take something amiss" is almost exclusively used figuratively. It refers to the act of being offended or misunderstanding something, not to physically taking something in the wrong way. Therefore, it's crucial to understand the idiomatic meaning to use it correctly.
Both "take something amiss" and "take offense" relate to feeling insulted, but "take offense" suggests a more active and perhaps deliberate choice to be offended. "Take something amiss" implies a misunderstanding or misinterpretation that leads to hurt feelings, without necessarily implying intentional offense.
No, that's a common misunderstanding. "Take something amiss" has nothing to do with physical actions. It's an idiom that means to be offended by or misunderstand something, causing you to feel hurt or insulted. Always remember it's about the interpretation of words or actions, not physical handling.
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