Choose the correct meaning of idiom: To be in high dudgeon

Correct — B. Dudgeon is a feeling of anger or resentment, especially haughty indignation. High intensifies it.

So a person in high dudgeon is deeply offended and carries it with a lofty, injured air. That is to be offended with exaggerated dignity → option (b).

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  To be in a state of moral superiority — Moral superiority belongs to the high horse, as in get off your high horse. Dudgeon starts from feeling wronged, not from feeling better than others.
• (c)
  To be excited without restraint — Excited without restraint takes high as high spirits. Dudgeon is resentment, so high here intensifies offence, not joy.
• (d)
  To be lost in self-delusion — Self-delusion has no footing in the phrase. Dudgeon names a feeling of offence, not a false belief about yourself.

Dudgeon means anger or resentment, especially haughty indignation. In high dudgeon means deeply offended, and showing it: she walked out of the meeting in high dudgeon.

Indignation is anger at being treated unfairly or beneath your worth. It shares a Latin root with dignity, which is why the keyed meaning speaks of dignity.

Key facts

• Dudgeon: a feeling of anger or resentment, especially haughty indignation.
• In high dudgeon: deeply offended and resentful, and showing it.
• Indignation and dignity both come from Latin dignus, worthy.
• High horse: an air of smug superiority, as in get off your high horse.

Common traps

• Reading high as high spirits and choosing the excited option
• Choosing moral superiority because the phrase sounds lofty, when its core is being offended

No directly related past PYQ was found.