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Feelings - Shame & Embarrassment

Explore English idioms regarding shame and embarrassment with examples like "eat humble pie" and "red in the face".

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English idioms related to Feelings
to [spare|save] {one's} blushes

to avoid doing or saying something that would embarrass someone

Ex: I won't mention the mistake in front of everyone; I'll spare his blushes. 
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to [make] a spectacle of {oneself}

to behave in a very foolish and embarrassing way in the presence of others

Ex: He made a spectacle of himself at the wedding by shouting during the speeches. 
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the (ground|floor|earth) [open] up and [swallow] {sb}

used to wish that one could disappear or not have existed at all so as not to have to tolerate such embarrassment

Ex: When she tripped in front of the whole class, she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. 
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(as|) red as a beet

turning red in the face out of embarrassment

Ex: She turned red as a beet when everyone sang happy birthday to her. 
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(as|) red as a cherry

used to describe someone who is extremely red in the face due to embarrassment

Ex: She went red as a cherry when everyone laughed at her mistake. 
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to [swallow] {one's} pride

to have no choice but to do something that is embarrassing in one's standards

Ex: He had to swallow his pride and ask his younger brother for money. 
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to [put] {one's} foot in {one's} mouth

to do or say something that leads to someone's embarrassment

Ex: I really put my foot in my mouth when I mentioned her ex-boyfriend. 
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[egg] (on|all over) {one's} [face]

a situation in which one is badly embarrassed because of what one did or said

Ex: He looked all over egg-faced after forgetting his lines on stage. 
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to [eat] dirt
to eat dirt
[phrase]

to regret or feel bad about what one has said earlier

Ex: After seeing how upset she was, he had to eat dirt for what he said. 
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to [eat] humble pie

to admit one's mistakes or accept a humiliating situation or defeat

Ex: After denying it for days, he had to eat humble pie and apologize. 
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red in the face

feeling severely ashamed or embarrassed

Ex: He was red in the face after forgetting his lines on stage. 
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