in/with high spirits

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joham

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She responded in/with high spirits.

Do both prepositions work well in this sentence?

Thank you in advance.
 

emsr2d2

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She responded in/with high spirits.

Do both prepositions work well in this sentence?

Thank you in advance.

Neither of them really work. The phrase is "to be in high spirits" so "to be" is the only verb usually used with it. You wouldn't say that someone "speaks/responds" in high spirits.

She was in high spirits when she responded.
She seemed to be in high spirits when she replied.
 

billmcd

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"In high spirits" would be more appropriate as an adverbial phrase that described the manner in which she responded.
 
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