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To feel awkward, uncomfortable, or self-conscious due to an embarrassing situation or social blunder.
Dopo aver detto quella frase fuori luogo, sono rimasto in imbarazzo per minuti.
After saying that inappropriate phrase, I was embarrassed for minutes.
Non volevo rimanere in imbarazzo davanti a tutti, quindi ho cercato di cambiare discorso.
I didn’t want to feel embarrassed in front of everyone, so I tried to change the subject.
Often used to describe a prolonged feeling of discomfort after a social mistake, not just a fleeting moment.
Use 'rimanere in imbarazzo' when describing a lingering feeling of embarrassment after a social blunder, not for a one-time awkward moment. For example, 'Sono rimasto in imbarazzo per ore dopo aver rovesciato il caffè' (I was embarrassed for hours after spilling the coffee).
Do not translate this idiom word-for-word. Instead of 'to remain in embarrassment,' use 'to be embarrassed' or 'to feel awkward.'
From 'rimanere' (to remain) + 'imbarazzo' (embarrassment, from 'imbarazzare' to embarrass, ultimately from Provençal 'embarrassar' meaning to hinder or impede). The phrase emerged in the 19th century as a way to describe lingering discomfort after an awkward moment.
This idiom is commonly used in both spoken and written Italian to describe a state of prolonged embarrassment. It is not used for minor or fleeting moments of awkwardness.