awkward moment
15
4.1
- noun
- /ˈɔkwərd ˈmoʊmənt/
:
momento incómodo
- There was one awkward moment when the Propriety Officer caught sight of Jason's hideous jogging shoes.
- awkward moment of silence
- one awkward moment
- most awkward moments
Sometimes the most awkward moments of silence can really get her uncomfortable and get her to open up.
- Sometimes the most awkward moments of silence can really get her uncomfortable and get her to open up.
- I mean, Don Rickles can do it, but there's been a lot of awkward moments for Don Rickles, even on a public stage.
- So it's like, it feels like an an awkward moment for the right wing white nationalist memosphere.
- And it's a very awkward moment when you have to lift and direct her.
- And like it leads to some awkward moments in the moment, but I never have to keep my story straight, right?
Examples
-
Unfortunately, you've caught me at an awkward moment.
-
The only really awkward moment came as I sat in English class.
Fiction book (1990) -
This is an awkward moment.
-
The three sit still for an awkward moment.
Fiction book (1999) -
The two couples met for lunch, and during the course of conversation, an awkward moment occurred.
-
For a brief, awkward moment, it's as if no one knows how to proceed.
Fiction book (1990) -
There's an awkward moment as neither knows what to say.
Fiction book (1998) -
The two have an awkward moment as Seth reaches out to embrace his father.
Fiction book (2000) -
This is an awkward moment for me, Mr. Melon, since I realize you're a highly respected member of our business community.
-
When he accidentally spilled his drink on her, it turned into an awkward moment for both of them.
Synonyms
219
3.1
A feeling of awkwardness or shame
25
4.5
A feeling of embarrassment or discomfort in social situations
13
8.8
An embarrassing act or remark that upsets people in social situations
1
6.0
A feeling of being uneasy or awkward
An event that makes you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
How Awkward
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a time or situation when someone feels socially uncomfortable' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'awkward' (socially uneasy or embarrassed) with 'moment' (a point in time). This adjective + noun compositional pattern is common in English and cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase awkward moment paints a picture of a short, clumsy pause in a conversation when someone looks stiff or says the wrong thing. A moment is a very short time and awkward shows clumsy, uncomfortable action, so the phrase means 'feeling socially uncomfortable'.