awkward

gênant, embarrassant

Qui met les gens mal à l’aise ou les embarrasse, surtout en présence d’autres personnes.

En anglais simple : Making people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, especially in a social situation.

• There was an awkward silence.
• I felt awkward asking her about the money.
• The dinner became awkward when his former partner arrived.

Synonymes : uncomfortable, embarrassing

Expressions courantes : awkward silence, awkward moment, feel awkward

difficile, peu pratique

Difficile à utiliser, à gérer ou à organiser à cause de sa forme, de sa conception ou de sa complexité.

En anglais simple : Difficult to use, deal with, or arrange because of its shape, design, or complexity.

• The controls are awkward to use.
• Its awkward shape made packing difficult.
• We found an answer to a particularly awkward problem.

Comment l'utiliser : awkward to do something (The box is awkward to carry.)

Synonymes : difficult, tricky, unwieldy

Contraires : easy

Expressions courantes : awkward shape, awkward to use, awkward problem

maladroit, gauche

Qui maîtrise mal ses mouvements, laisse souvent tomber des objets ou a du mal à bouger.

En anglais simple : Moving without skill or control, often dropping things or finding movements difficult.

• He is an awkward dancer.
• The puppy looked awkward on its long legs.
• Her movements were awkward at first, but practice helped.

Synonymes : clumsy, ungainly

Contraires : graceful, agile

Expressions courantes : awkward movements, awkward dancer, awkward on feet, awkward with tools

difficile, récalcitrant

Qui complique volontairement les choses en refusant d’aider ou de se mettre d’accord.

En anglais simple : Deliberately making things difficult for other people by refusing to help or agree.

• Please stop being awkward.
• An awkward customer refused every solution we offered.
• He was deliberately awkward about signing the form.

Synonymes : difficult, uncooperative, obstructive

Contraires : cooperative, helpful

Expressions courantes : be awkward, awkward customer, deliberately awkward