Basic Details
Word: Embarrassment
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A feeling of shame or awkwardness when something awkward or foolish happens.
Synonyms: Shame, humiliation, disgrace
Antonyms: Pride, confidence, assurance
Idioms and Phrases
- Throw someone under the bus: To betray someone for your own benefit, often causing them embarrassment. Example: "He threw his friend under the bus to save himself from embarrassment at work."
- Face the music: To confront the consequences of a mistake or awkward situation. Example: "After making a silly mistake in the presentation, she had to face the music and apologise."
Usage Examples
Example 1: She felt a wave of embarrassment when she tripped over her own feet in front of the class.
Example 2: His face turned bright red with embarrassment when he realised he had forgotten his best friend's birthday.
Example 3: Sometimes, a little embarrassment can help us learn from our mistakes and grow.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the word "embarrassment" comes from the Spanish word "embarazo," which originally referred to "a hindrance" or "a burden"? This shows how the feeling of embarrassment can weigh us down.
Famous Quote
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one." Elbert Hubbard
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "embarrassment" mean?
a) A feeling of happiness
b) A feeling of sadness
c) A feeling of shame or awkwardness
d) A feeling of excitement
Answer: c) A feeling of shame or awkwardness
2. Which of these is a synonym of "embarrassment"?
a) Joy
b) Fear
c) Humiliation
d) Strength
Answer: c) Humiliation
3. Which word is an antonym of "embarrassment"?
a) Shame
b) Confidence
c) Awkwardness
d) Disgrace
Answer: b) Confidence
4. Which sentence uses "embarrassment" correctly?
a) He felt embarrassment when he scored a goal.
b) She was full of embarrassment after winning the award.
c) The embarrassment of forgetting his speech made him nervous.
d) The embarrassment tasted sweet.
Answer: c) The embarrassment of forgetting his speech made him nervous.
5. Which idiom relates to the feeling of embarrassment?
a) Throw someone under the bus
b) Under the weather
c) Bite the bullet
d) Hit the nail on the head
Answer: a) Throw someone under the bus
