- offense⇄expr. give offense, to offend.
Ex. I just did not see you and did not mean to give offense. Pleasing the most delicate reader, without giving offense to the most scrupulous (Joseph Addison). - offense⇄expr. take offense, to be offended.
Ex. The players did not take offense when the coach criticized their basketball game. Unfortunately, offense is usually taken where offense is meant (A. W. Ward). - offense⇄offense, noun.
(Especially U.S.)
1a. the act of breaking the law; crime or sin.
Ex. a penal offense. The punishment for that offense is two years in prison. Murder is an offense against God and man.
(SYN) misdemeanor, transgressi