1. 令人尴尬的；使人难堪的　 making you feel embarrassed; not comfortable, relaxed, or confident
2. 难对付的；难处理的　difficult to deal with; difficult to deal with and embarrassing
3. 不方便的　not convenient; difficult to use or handle
4. （因形状、设计而）产生困难的，危险的　difficult or dangerous because of its shape or design
5. 不优美的；难看的；不舒适的　not graceful; not comfortable; slightly wrong and not attractive or graceful

　～ child　笨拙的孩子
　～ customer　难以应付的人
　～ drawing　粗劣的图画
　～ excuse　拙劣的借口
　～ instrument　使用不便的工具
　～ method　难以掌握的方法
　～ position　尴尬的处境
　～ posture　不雅的姿势
　～ question　棘手的问题
　～ situation　尴尬的境遇
　～ staircase　不便上下的楼梯
　～ at　在…方面技巧拙劣的
　～ at tennis　网球技术很差
　～ for　对…不便的
　～ in　在…方面技巧拙劣的
　～ in one's movements　动作笨拙
　～ with　与…一起感到不自在的，用…笨拙的
　～ with a needle and thread　使用针线很笨拙
　～ with children　和孩子在一起感到局促不安
　～ with sb's hand　某人的手工活儿很笨拙

　She is an awkward girl.　她是一个笨手笨脚的女孩。
　He was an awkward dancer.　他跳舞笨手笨脚。
　He runs with an awkward movement.　他跑的时候动作很笨拙。
　He walked with an awkward gait like a penguin.　他走路的步子难看得就像企鹅。
　That journalist's an awkward customer—she's always asking politicians the questions that they'd prefer not to answer.　那个新闻记者是个很难应付的人——她总是问一些政治家们不愿回答的问题。
　Don't go too near the dog—he's an awkward customer.　不要太靠近那条狗——它是个不好对付的家伙。
　His awkward speech made him difficult to understand.　他的演讲累赘冗长，让人摸不着头脑。
　This is an awkward tool.　这个工具不好使用。
　It's an awkward machine to use.　这部机器使用起来很不方便。
　This is an awkward corner to turn.　这个弯很难拐。
　This tool has an awkward handle to hold.　这工具的把手不好握。
　An awkward manner makes everyone uneasy.　一个尴尬的行为使大家都不自在。
　She had arranged all the furniture at awkward angles.　她把家具全都摆放得很难看。
　I had to bang in the nail at a rather awkward angle.　我只好歪着把钉子打进去。
　The handle of this pitcher has an awkward shape.　这罐的柄不好抓。
　It was an awkward ascent, but we reached the top eventually.　虽然上坡路难行，但我们最终还是到达了山顶。
　The new garage made an awkward addition to the house.　新建的汽车车库与房子不相称，有点不伦不类。
　One of his arms hung in an awkward way that told Kunta it had been broken.　他的一只手臂难看地下垂着，这告诉孔塔那只手臂断了。
　There was an awkward silence.　出现了一阵令人尴尬的沉默。
　After he spoke there was an awkward silence.　他发言之后是一阵难堪的沉默。
　Her controversial comment was followed by an awkward silence.　在她有争议的评论之后是一片令人尴尬的沉默。
　Have I come at an awkward time? 　我来得不是时候吧?
　Our visitors came at an awkward time.　我们的客人来得真不是时候。
　He responded well to a very awkward situation.　他很好地应付了那个颇尴尬的局面。
　I really don't know what to do in such an awkward situation.　我真不知道在这么尴尬的情况下该怎么做。
　She found herself in an awkward position.　她发觉自己陷入了困境。
　You put me in a very awkward position.　你使我处境非常尴尬。
　They've been asking some very awkward questions.　他们问了一些很不好回答的问题。
　The police asked some awkward questions about where the money had come from.　警方对这笔钱的来路问了好几个棘手的问题。
　Luckily nobody asked any awkward questions about what he was doing there.　幸运的是，没人问起有关他在那儿做什么事的棘手问题。
　He asked me such an awkward question that I did not know what to reply.　他向我提了个十分尴尬的问题，我真不知道该怎样答复。
　The press conference came at an awkward time for me.　对我来说，这次记者招待会开得不是时候。
　It was an awkward time to call.　这个时间打电话是令人尴尬的。
　They'd chosen an awkward time to call as I'd just go into the bath.　他们早不打，晚不打，偏偏在我刚进浴室时打电话给我。
　I hate being the first to arrive at a party—it makes me feel so awkward.　我讨厌第一个到达舞会地点——这令我觉得尴尬。
　I always feel awkward when I'm with Chris—he's so difficult to talk to.　和克里斯在一起我老觉得尴尬——他令人难以接近。
　She felt awkward dealing with that client.　她感到那位主顾很难对付。
　He will have to leave early because his wife is so awkward.　他将不得不早点离开，因为他太太蛮不讲理。
　Some of the questions were rather awkward, but I still enjoyed the exam.　虽然有几道题相当难，但总的来说我考得还不错。
　It's a bit awkward, because he's my friend but I'm still his boss.　这有点难办，因为他是我的朋友，可我还是他的老板。
　The ascent of the ridge was very awkward.　攀登这峭壁是很危险的。
　Don't be so awkward—we've got to get this finished by tonight.　不要这样别扭——我们今天晚上一定要把这事办完。
　His landing was awkward, but it was only the second time he'd flown solo.　他的着陆技术很不熟练，但这只是他第二次单飞。
　He is awkward at business.　他不会做买卖。
　The foreigner was awkward at handing chopsticks.　这个外国人用筷子笨手笨脚的。
　He felt awkward about leaving　他对要离开感到局促不安。
　She felt awkward about asking to borrow more money.　她对张口借更多的钱觉得不好意思。
　He is awkward in his manner.　他样子笨拙。
　Tom is awkward in his studies.　汤姆学习上不太聪明。
　He was awkward in everything he did.　他做什么事都笨手笨脚。
　He stood there looking stiff and awkward in his uniform.　他站在那儿，穿着制服显得僵硬而别扭。
　He is very awkward in doing a thing.　他做起事来很不灵活。
　He is always awkward in giving his views.　他笨嘴笨舌，说不清楚自己的意见。
　Thursday is rather awkward for me. Could we meet on Tuesday?　星期四我不太方便，我们星期二碰头，行吗?
　He feels shy and awkward with women.　他在妇女面前感到局促不安。
　He is awkward with children.　他和孩子们在一起感到别扭。
　He is still awkward with a knife and fork and drops food at each meal.　他用起来刀和叉仍然笨手笨脚，每餐都毁掉饭菜。
　The child is still awkward with his chopsticks.　那小孩用筷子还不熟练。
　He's rather awkward with his hands.　他的手很不灵巧。
　I am rather awkward with tools; you do the job.　我使用工具笨手笨脚，这工作你来干吧。
　She was too awkward with a needle to make her own clothes.　她做针线太笨，连自己的衣服都缝不好。
　The machine was very awkward to use.　这台机器很难操作。
　The machine is awkward to handle.　这机器不易操纵。
　This box is very awkward for one person to carry.　这只箱子一个人很不好搬。
　It is very awkward to use this tool.　这工具很不好使。
　It is very awkward to discuss such matters in public.　当众谈论这种事情令人十分尴尬。
　It is a bit awkward for me to come at that time.　要我在那个时间来有点不方便。
　It's rather awkward of you to refuse to do this job.　你拒绝这项工作真是太不给我面子了。
　John is so shy and awkward that everyone notices him.　约翰如此害羞狼狈，以至于大家都注意到了他。

　It is awkward that Brown should be unable to play in our team this week.　很糟糕，布朗本星期不能参加我队的比赛。
　He made things very awkward for me taking me into his confidence.　他把我当作知心人反而使我处境尴尬。

 ♣ awkward, clumsy
　参见clumsy条。

　［派生词］ awkwardly adv.局促不安地；笨拙地 ‖awkwardness n.难堪；笨拙
　［同义词］ difficult, embarrassing, inconvenient, troublesome, trying, uncomfortable, unpleasant
　［反义词］ pleasing, pleasant, easy, comfortable
　［词源］中古英语aukward（向后的，倒退的）