squirm

Everyday

1. To squirm means to twist and wriggle your body because you are uncomfortable, bored or trying to get free: "The puppy squirmed out of my arms." tree →
2. To squirm also means to feel very embarrassed or ashamed: "His joke made me squirm." tree →

In the lessons

In stories it shows a character's discomfort or guilt without saying it directly. In everyday school life, children squirm on the carpet or squirm when asked a hard question. Phrases: "squirm in your seat", "squirm out of" (escape from something wriggling), "make someone squirm".

Examples

• The little boy squirmed in his chair during the long assembly. tree →
• The fish squirmed in the net. tree →
• I squirmed when Mum showed my baby photos. tree →
• The puppy squirmed out of my arms. tree →
• He squirmed with embarrassment when he forgot his lines. tree →
• Worms squirmed in the wet soil. tree →
• The tricky question made the minister squirm. tree →
• Instead of a dead donkey, he saw a very much alive Marionette, wriggling and squirming like an eel. tree →

Note

Regular verb: squirmed. Close words: wriggle, writhe, fidget. "Squirm" often hints at embarrassment or guilt; "wriggle" is just movement.