Language Activator – Embarrassed
Embarrassed/mortified/self-conscious/uncomfortable/awkward/squirm
embarrassed
(adjective)
feeling uncomfortable or shy and worrying about what people think of you, for example because you have made a stupid mistake or because you have to talk about your feelings, about sex etc
The teachers are supposed to teach us about ‘safe sex’, but most of them are too embarrassed
get/feel embarrassed
.Kids get embarrassed if their Mums kiss them in front of their friends
embarrassed about
.I got very drunk at the party, and I feel really embarrassed about it
embarrassed by/at
.Marlon was always embarrassed by his lack of education
acutely embarrassed
very embarrassed
.I’m not sure if I actually want to marry her, Harry said, feeling acutely embarrassed
self-conscious
(adjective)
shy and embarrassed about your body, or about the way you look or talk
feel self-conscious
.I always feel really self-conscious in a bikini
self-conscious about
.Teenagers are often very self-conscious about their appearance
self-consciously
(adverb)
.He got up rather self-consciously and walked towards the stage
uncomfortable
(adjective)
feeling embarrassed because you cannot relax with the people around you
.All this talk about love and romance was making me uncomfortable
feel uncomfortable
.an uncomfortable silence
uncomfortably
(adverb)
.Rhys shuffled his feet uncomfortably, trying to think of an excuse to leave
Awkward
feeling so shy, nervous, and embarrassed that you cannot behave in a natural way
feel awkward
.I didn’t know anyone at the party, and I felt really awkward at first
an awkward moment/silence etc
when you or other people feel awkward
.Carrie laughed out loud, and there was an awkward silence
awkwardly
(adverb)
.David felt too shy to say anything, and looked at them awkwardly
awkwardness
uncountable noun
.There was an awkwardness in her manner which made it difficult to talk to her
sheepish
(adjective usually before noun)
looking or feeling a little embarrassed because you feel guilty about something
.He gave her a sheepish look and said, I’m very sorry, I forgot it was your birthday
look sheepish
.Debbie arrived late for work looking a bit sheepish
sheepishly
(adverb)
.I only have one or two cigarettes now and then, he said sheepishly
mortified
(adjective not before noun)
very shocked, embarrassed, or ashamed because you realize that you have done something wrong, or because of something unpleasant that happens to you: mortified by
.Deaver was mortified by his mistake and immediately admitted that he was wrong
mortified at the thought of something
.Carla felt mortified at the thought of having to repeat another year at school
mortified to find/see etc something
.I was mortified to find that everyone else was wearing evening dress
squirm
(intransitive verb)
to feel extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable because of something stupid that you did or said, or because of something that someone else does
.Whenever I think back to what I said at the party it makes me want to squirm
squirm with embarrassment
The little boy squirmed with embarrassment when his mother told him off in front of his friends
I could have died
say this when you are telling someone about a time when you felt extremely embarrassed
.When I realized that Sally had heard every word I said about her, I could have died
egg on your face
if someone, especially someone in authority has egg on their face, they have done something wrong or embarrassing in a way that makes them look stupid
The government ended up with egg on its face when it was found to have withheld documents for political purposes
:Practice
:Fill in the blanks with appropriate words
N1. Don’t underestimate this club or you’ll be left with ————- on your face. I’ve got one of the best squads ever in the Premier League
.N2. For one ————moment I thought I had said something terribly wrong
.N3. Jim always felt ————- on such formal occasions
!————-N4. Tony spilled red wine all over their carpet. He was so
:Answers
Egg/ awkward/ uncomfortable/ embarrassed
