awkwardly pause

Frequency: 7.08.2 per million words

To stop speaking or acting for a moment in a way that creates an uncomfortable or tense silence.

awkwardlyADVERB + VERB

Categories:

pause

Examples (10)

  • He awkwardly paused before asking his boss for a raise.
  • When asked about her past, she would often awkwardly pause.
  • The presenter awkwardly paused when his slides suddenly failed to load.
  • There's no need to awkwardly pause; just say what's on your mind.
  • I noticed him awkwardly pausing whenever the sensitive topic was brought up.
  • The politician awkwardly paused, searching for the right words to appease the crowd.
  • "Well, you see..." he started, and then awkwardly paused for what felt like an eternity.
  • A speaker who awkwardly pauses too often can lose the audience's attention.
  • She awkwardly paused mid-sentence, realizing she had revealed too much information.
  • The lawyer was known to awkwardly pause for dramatic effect before revealing key evidence.