awkward
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++awk·ward /ˈɔːkwəd $ ˈɒːkwərd/ ●●○ S3 adjective 1 EMBARRASSEDmaking you feel embarrassed so that you are not sure what to do or say 令人尴尬的，使人难堪的 SYN difficult I hoped he would stop asking awkward questions. 我希望他不要再问令人难堪的问题。 There was an awkward moment when she didn’t know whether to shake his hand or kiss his cheek. 她不知道是该跟他握手还是亲他的脸颊，一时很尴尬。 an awkward silence 令人尴尬的沉默 A laugh can help people over an awkward situation. 笑可以助人化解尴尬。 Philip’s remarks put her in an awkward position (=made it difficult for her to know what to do). 菲利普的话使她很窘迫。► see thesaurus at embarrassed2 EMBARRASSEDCLUMSYnot relaxed or comfortable 紧张的；不舒适的 She liked to dance but felt awkward if someone was watching her. 她喜欢跳舞，但要是有人看着，她就觉得不舒服。 Geoff looked uneasy and awkward. 杰夫看上去紧张不安。 Make sure that the baby is not sleeping in an awkward position. 要确保小宝宝睡姿舒服。3 DIFFICULTdifficult to do, use, or deal with 难办的；难用的，不好操作的；难应付的 It’ll be awkward getting cars in and out. 这样汽车就不好进出了。 The new financial arrangements were awkward to manage. 新的财务安排不好操作。 A good carpenter can make a cupboard to fit the most awkward space. 就算是再尴尬的空间，好木匠也能做一个合适的橱柜。 She was afraid he was going to ask an awkward question. 她担心他会问出不好回答的问题。► see thesaurus at difficult4 CONVENIENTnot convenient 不方便的 I’m sorry to call at such an awkward time but I won’t keep you a minute. 对不起，我这个电话打得不是时候，不过我不会耽搁你很久的。5 HELPan awkward person is deliberately unhelpful 〔人〕难相处的，不好应付的 SYN difficultawkward about The staff wanted to go home and they were getting awkward about a meeting starting so late. 员工想要回家，而这么晚才开始开会，他们就很不合作。 an awkward customer (=person who is difficult and unhelpful) 难侍候的家伙 —awkwardly adverb ‘I’m very sorry about your sister, ’ he said awkwardly. “对于你姐姐的事我很难过。”他尴尬地说道。 Vera smiled awkwardly. 薇拉笑得挺尴尬。 —awkwardness noun [uncountable] He tried to smooth over the awkwardness of the situation. 他试图缓和尴尬的场面。
Examples from the Corpus
awkward• She may appear stiff and perhaps awkward.• Do you have to be so awkward about everything?• I didn't know anyone at the party, and I felt really awkward at first.• The Department can be very awkward at times.• It was really awkward, because she and Rachel don't get along.• She felt awkward in her high-heeled shoes.• This, with his stupid loyalty and his awkward maleness, she found touching.• For one awkward moment I thought I had said something terribly wrong.• Seals are awkward on land, but graceful in the water.• He's at an age when kids start asking awkward questions - like 'Where do babies come from?'• Whilst the others joked, drank and flirted, they would sit in awkward seriousness.• If Jack had been at all concerned that his impulsive gesture would result in an awkward silence he need not have worried.• an awkward silence• Carrie laughed out loud, and there was an awkward silence.• an awkward teenager• I'm sorry, have I called at an awkward time?• The camera is awkward to use.• Bud turned round and gave an awkward wave out of the car window.• Getting in and out of the water is awkward when you're wearing flippers.• the awkward wording of the letterawkward silence• Spider said after an awkward silence.• When we got to the restaurant, there was an awkward silence as I took out my tape recorder.• There was another awkward silence, broken by the laughter from the bar.• An awkward silence fell between them.• If Jack had been at all concerned that his impulsive gesture would result in an awkward silence he need not have worried.• She figured the awkward silence was partly the result of people believing that only big topics were worthy of being discussed.• There was an awkward silence which Maidstone might have broken with some amiable remark to save Sandison's face.• An awkward silence would do them both good.awkward customer• Perhaps pressure from his local boss or party secretary would revise the awkward customer's views in an acceptable direction.Origin awkward (1500-1600) awk “turned the wrong way” ((15-17 centuries)) (from Old Norse öfugr) + -wardawk·ward adjectiveChineseSyllable
you what that you embarrassed Corpus so feel are not sure making
awkward
awk‧ward S3 /ˈɔːkwəd $ ˈɒːkwərd/
adjective
SYN difficult:
I hoped he would stop asking awkward questions.
There was an awkward moment when she didn’t know whether to shake his hand or kiss his cheek.
an awkward silence
A laugh can help people over an awkward situation.
Philip’s remarks put her in an awkward position (=made it difficult for her to know what to do).
2. not relaxed or comfortable:
She liked to dance but felt awkward if someone was watching her.
Geoff looked uneasy and awkward.
Make sure that the baby is not sleeping in an awkward position.
3. difficult to do, use, or deal with:
It’ll be awkward getting cars in and out.
The new financial arrangements were awkward to manage.
A good carpenter can make a cupboard to fit the most awkward space.
She was afraid he was going to ask an awkward question.
4. not convenient:
I’m sorry to call at such an awkward time but I won’t keep you a minute.
5. an awkward person is deliberately unhelpful
SYN difficult
awkward about
The staff wanted to go home and they were getting awkward about a meeting starting so late.
an awkward customer (=person who is difficult and unhelpful)
—awkwardly adverb:
‘I’m very sorry about your sister,’ he said awkwardly.
Vera smiled awkwardly.
—awkwardness noun [uncountable]:
He tried to smooth over the awkwardness of the situation.
awk‧ward S3 /ˈɔːkwəd $ ˈɒːkwərd/
adjective Date: 1500-1600
Origin: awk 'turned the wrong way' (15-17 centuries) (from Old Norse öfugr) + -ward
1. making you feel embarrassed so that you are not sure what to do or say Origin: awk 'turned the wrong way' (15-17 centuries) (from Old Norse öfugr) + -ward
SYN difficult:
2. not relaxed or comfortable:
3. difficult to do, use, or deal with:
4. not convenient:
5. an awkward person is deliberately unhelpful
SYN difficult
awkward about
—awkwardly adverb:
—awkwardness noun [uncountable]: