embarrassment

Everyday

1. A feeling of being shy, silly or uncomfortable because of something you did or something that happened in front of others. tree →
2. A person or thing that makes you feel this way. tree →

In the lessons

In lessons about feelings, embarrassment is a normal feeling, for example tripping in front of the class or forgetting lines in a play; everyone feels it, and it passes. Laughing at your own small mistakes helps. Teasing others to cause embarrassment is unkind. Phrases: «red with embarrassment», «to my embarrassment», «cause embarrassment».

Examples

• My face went red with embarrassment. tree →
• To my embarrassment, I called my teacher «Mum». tree →
• She hid her embarrassment by laughing. tree →
• Don't tease people to cause them embarrassment. tree →
• Embarrassment is a feeling that soon goes away. tree →
• The burst ball was an embarrassment for the team. tree →
• By this time the princess had recovered from the first embarrassment of meeting, and proceeded to make her speech of welcome. tree →

Note

Spelling trap: double «r» and double «s»: em-ba-rr-a-ss-ment. Mostly uncountable (the feeling). Verb: embarrass; adjectives: embarrassed (how you feel), embarrassing (what causes it).

In Jewish tradition

In lessons about feelings, embarrassment is a normal feeling, for example tripping in front of the class or forgetting lines in a play; everyone feels it, and it passes. Laughing at your own small mistakes helps. Teasing others to cause embarrassment is unkind. Phrases: «red with embarrassment», «to my embarrassment», «cause embarrassment».

Examples

• Nonetheless, English translators have usually shied away from the this-worldly symbolism of the ‘Holy Wind’, much preferring immaterial ‘Spirit’ either out of theological embarrassment or deference to tradition. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →

Note

Spelling trap: double «r» and double «s»: em-ba-rr-a-ss-ment. Mostly uncountable (the feeling). Verb: embarrass; adjectives: embarrassed (how you feel), embarrassing (what causes it).