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embarrassment

n.
US //ɪmˈbɛɹəsmənt// UK //ɛmbˈæɹəsmənt// em·bar·rass·ment
  1. 1 feeling of shame (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the shy or uncomfortable feeling you get when you make a mistake or do something silly in front of people.

    a state of self-conscious distress or humiliation resulting from a social gaffe or perceived inadequacy.

    Example

    He turned red with embarrassment after he called his teacher 'Mom' by mistake.

    Example

    She struggled to hide her embarrassment when the moderator pointed out a significant calculation error in her opening slide.
    Pitfall
    I felt a big embarrassment when I fell.
    I felt great embarrassment when I fell.

    When referring to the feeling itself, 'embarrassment' is usually uncountable and does not take 'a'.

  2. 2 a cause of shame (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person or thing that makes someone else feel ashamed.

    a person, object, or event that serves as a source of public humiliation for an associated party.

    Example

    The messy garden was a real embarrassment to the whole family.

    Example

    The scandal proved to be a major embarrassment for the administration, forcing several high-ranking officials to issue public apologies.
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  1. 3 too many good choices (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    having so many good things or choices that it is actually difficult to pick one.

    an overabundance or excessive supply of something desirable, often leading to difficulty in selection; usually in the phrase 'an embarrassment of riches'.

    Example

    With five job offers to choose from, she had an embarrassment of riches.

    Example

    The director faced an embarrassment of riches during the casting process, as nearly every auditioning actor was perfectly suited for the lead role.
  2. 4 medical difficulty (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Medicine

    a medical problem where a part of the body cannot work properly, especially with breathing.

    the impairment or restriction of a physiological function, most commonly used in the context of respiratory or cardiac distress.

    Example

    The patient was rushed to the hospital showing signs of respiratory embarrassment.

    Example

    The clinical report noted significant respiratory embarrassment, likely exacerbated by the patient's underlying chronic condition and the high altitude.

    Usage

    Often appears in the phrase 'respiratory embarrassment'.
  3. 5 a group of pandas (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Humorous

    the special name for a group of pandas.

    the collective noun specifically designated for a group of pandas.

    Example

    We were lucky enough to see an embarrassment of pandas at the zoo.

    Example

    While 'group' is sufficient for most, the guide informed us that the correct collective term for these bears is an embarrassment of pandas.
Origin

From embarrass + -ment.

Idioms1 entry

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