to feel awkward
21
2.8
- phrasal verb
- /fiːl ˈɔːkwərd/
:
sentirse incómodo
- It makes everyone feel awkward.
Next one is you feel awkward vlogging in public.
- Next one is you feel awkward vlogging in public.
- See, you feel awkward about reaching out, and so do I.
- This might feel awkward at first, but it works.
- And now it's like she, she almost feels awkward for not continuing to talk to him.
- At first it feels awkward, it may not even work.
- It's, it's he felt awkward trying to have that conversation.
- He does not want to make you feel some kind of way or feel awkward.
- Like, you just don't know what to say to her, so you wind up feeling awkward or shy or questioning yourself.
- And while it may feel awkward at first, there is no shame in asking for Lube or bringing Lube to sex dates.
- They were like, do you feel awkward?
- It's, it's it's partially because do you feel awkward doing it?
Examples
-
I didn't feel funny, I felt awkward, but I couldn't stop.
Fiction book (1997) -
There's no need to feel awkward.
-
This might feel awkward at first, but it works.
-
At first it feels awkward, it may not even work.
-
I feel awkward now about being early.
-
I feel awkward about it.
-
Usually, when I meet someone new, I feel awkward and shy.
-
Students can already feel awkward in initiating contact with others.
Academic text (2009) -
I'm sorry if I made you feel awkward, I didn't mean to.
-
Usually, when I meet someone new, I feel awkward and shy.
Synonyms
73
1.9
To be physically or emotionally uneasy
28
4.9
To feel embarrassed or uncomfortable and show it on your face
9
6.0
To be embarrassed and silly because of something you did
1
9.9
To feel foolish and embarrassed about something you did
To feel foolish and embarrassed because of something you did
To feel foolish or embarrassed because of a mistake
Act or seem foolish and unable to do something in a situation
To feel very ashamed and worthless after doing something embarrassing
Antonyms
How Awkward
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to experience discomfort or embarrassment' is directly compositional from 'feel' (to experience an emotion) + 'awkward' (uneasy, embarrassed). This pattern (verb feel + adjective) is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Feel awkward comes from a physical image: the word awkward once meant being 'turned the wrong way' or stumbling and out of balance. So, to feel awkward is like being socially off-balance — 'embarrassed' or uncomfortable in a situation.