awkward
adjective uk/ˈɔː.kwəd/ us/ˈɑː.kwɚd/
(DIFFICULT)
B2 难用的；棘手的；难处理的，难对付的
difficult to use, do, or deal with
It's an awkward corner, so take it slowly. 这个转弯不好过，开慢点儿。
Some of the questions were rather awkward. 有些问题很难回答。
It was an awkward ascent, but we reached the top eventually. 那段上坡路很难走，但最后我们还是爬到了山顶。
[ + to infinitive ] My car's quite awkward to drive. 我的车很难开。
He's an awkward customer (= a difficult person to deal with). 他是个很难应付的顾客。
- More examples
- If he persists in asking awkward questions, then send him to the boss.
- When two of your best friends argue it puts you in a very awkward position.
- He fielded some awkward questions very skilfully.
- If they ask any awkward questions, just let me do the talking.
- It's going to be awkward, to say the least.
(EMBARRASSING)
B2 令人尴尬的；使人难堪的
causing problems, worry, or embarrassment
an awkward position/situation 令人尴尬的位置／局面
There followed an awkward silence while we all tried to think of something to say. 然后是一段令人尴尬的沉默，我们都绞尽脑汁地想说点儿什么。
They'd chosen an awkward time to call as I'd just got into the bath. 他们偏偏在我刚开始洗澡的时候来电话，真不是时候。
The police asked some awkward questions about where the money had come from. 警方围绕钱的来源问了一些让人很难作答的问题。
C2 尴尬的;局促不安的;为难的
embarrassed or nervous
I always feel awkward when I'm with Chris - he's so difficult to talk to. 我跟克里斯在一起总感到别扭——与他这人交谈太费劲儿。
He seemed a little awkward when I first met him. 我第一次见他的时候，他有点儿放不开。
- More examples
- He's very deft at handling awkward situations.
- Somehow she managed to fend off the awkward questions.
- It's always awkward when you meet someone you know, but you can't remember their name.
- Her remarks produced an awkward silence.
- After a long, awkward pause someone asked a question.
(NOT HELPFUL)
mainly UK难相处的；不合作的；故意为难的
intentionally not helpful
Just stop being so awkward and help me push the car, will you! 别再跟我闹别扭了，快帮我推推车，好不好！
Synonym: uncooperative
(MOVEMENT)
笨拙的;别扭的;不灵活的;难看的
moving in a way that is not natural, relaxed, or attractive
His movements were slow and awkward. 他的动作迟缓笨拙。
Idiom
the awkward gangidiom informal 不服从党派领导的英国民选议员
in the UK , the group of MPs (= people elected to the government) in a party who often disagree with their leader