Phrase · Social life & etiquette

awkward silence

idiom /awk-ward-sy-lens/

Definition

A pause made heavy by the shared awareness that nobody knows what to say.

In use

“A deeply awkward silence followed his terrible joke.”

Filed under

awkwardness
Published 3 August 2026

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The details

About this phrase

The language, classification and history attached to this Definr entry.

Language

Language form
idiom
Pronunciation
/awk-ward-sy-lens/

Classification

Life domain
People & society

History

Published
Last updated

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