em‧bar‧rassed S3 / ɪmbærəst / 形容词

1 feeling uncomfortable or nervous and worrying about what people think of you, for example because you have made a silly mistake, or because you have to talk or sing in public :

Lori gets embarrassed if we ask her to sing.

He looked embarrassed when I asked him where he’d been.

very/deeply/highly/acutely embarrassed

Michelle was acutely embarrassed (= very embarrassed ) at having to ask for money.

embarrassed smile/laugh/grin etc

Ken gave her an embarrassed grin.

There was an embarrassed silence.

embarrassed to do something

He was embarrassed to admit making a mistake.

embarrassed about/at

I felt embarrassed about how untidy the house was.

2 financially embarrassed having no money or having debts

COLLOCATIONS

副词

terribly/deeply embarrassed (= very embarrassed ) I was deeply embarrassed to see my mother arrive in a very short skirt.

acutely/highly embarrassed (= extremely embarrassed ) The government must be acutely embarrassed by the minister’s behaviour.

slightly/a little embarrassed Tom looked slightly embarrassed when his name was called out.

somewhat embarrassed (= slightly embarrassed ) His family seemed somewhat embarrassed to be there.

clearly/obviously embarrassed (= in a way that is obvious to other people ) He was clearly embarrassed about what had happened.

动词

feel embarrassed I felt embarrassed that he had seen me cry.

seem/look/sound embarrassed The judge seemed embarrassed to be asking her such personal questions.

get/become embarrassed Sometimes I get embarrassed, and I start to stutter.

名词

an embarrassed silence There was an embarrassed silence, then Gina laughed loudly.

an embarrassed smile/laugh/grin Lucy gave an embarrassed smile and looked down at her feet.

THESAURUS

embarrassed feeling uncomfortable or nervous and worrying about what people think of you, for example because you have made a silly mistake, or because you have to talk or sing in public : I was really embarrassed when I arrived at the party an hour early. | There’s no need to be embarrassed – you’ve got a lovely voice.

self-conscious embarrassed about your body or the way you look or talk : Paul had always been self-conscious about his big feet.

uncomfortable unable to relax because you are embarrassed and not sure what to say or do : There was a long silence and everyone at the table looked uncomfortable.

awkward / ɔkwəd $ ɒkwərd / feeling embarrassed because you are in a situation in which it is difficult to behave naturally : Teenagers often feel awkward in formal social situations. | There were some awkward moments when neither of us knew what to say to each other.

sheepish slightly embarrassed because you know that you have done something silly or because you feel a little guilty : Nigel came in late looking sheepish and apologetic.

red-faced embarrassed or ashamed – used mainly in newspaper reports : A judge was left red-faced when his mobile phone rang in court.

mortified [名词前不用] extremely embarrassed and ashamed because you realize that you have done something very silly or wrong : He said he was mortified at the way his comments had been reported in the papers.