adding to the embarrassment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "adding to the embarrassment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation that increases someone's feelings of shame or awkwardness. Example: "His unexpected arrival at the party was adding to the embarrassment of the already awkward situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Adding to the embarrassment, the UK is a signatory to an international treaty banning cluster bombs.

The Guardian

Adding to the embarrassment, it emerged a month later that her staff had used pen names to send supportive letters about the episode to newspapers and a newsmagazine.

The New York Times

Adding to the embarrassment was an affidavit in which Dr. Franklin testified that Mr. Théberge had become unfit for his job because of Parkinson's disease.

The New York Times - Arts

Adding to the embarrassment for the government, all of the people in the photos can be found by typing simple terms such as  "doctor", "businesswoman", "Down Syndrome man", "Egyptian soldier" and "fellah"  (Arabic for peasant), into Google Image search.

Independent

Adding to the embarrassment – Fox Interactive has been having separate conversations with ROO competitor Brightcove, which recently raised nearly $60 million in a round of financing that valued them at a rumored $220 million.

TechCrunch

Adding to the embarrassment: The early release included a note that it was missing a quote from Google's CEO Larry Page.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The two that followed only added to the embarrassment.

The Guardian - Sport

The Gators seemed finished before the play, but it added to the embarrassment.

The New York Times - Sports

The fall added to the embarrassment over Friday's share issue, when trading on Nasdaq was delayed by more than 30 minutes due to technical glitches.

The Guardian - Tech

To add to the embarrassment, the nation's top Department of Homeland Security DHSS) official Jeh Johnson had a private Comcast account possibly hacked by these same teenagers.

The Guardian - Opinion

But for American states devising cap-and-trade programmes of their own, it has been as much a cautionary tale as a role model.The new initiatives championed by Mrs Merkel might just add to the embarrassment.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "adding to the embarrassment" to emphasize how a subsequent action or revelation amplifies an already awkward or shameful situation, providing a clear link between events and their impact.

Common error

Avoid using "adding to the embarrassment" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and nuanced vocabulary like "compounding the issue" or "exacerbating the problem" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding to the embarrassment" functions as a supplementary verbal phrase. It emphasizes the intensification of an already awkward or shameful situation. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and usable, which is observable in the examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "adding to the embarrassment" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that intensifies feelings of shame or awkwardness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not exceedingly common, it is frequently seen in News & Media and Wiki contexts and is most suitable for neutral to informal communication. For highly formal or academic writing, consider alternatives such as "compounding the issue" or "exacerbating the problem".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compounding the humiliation

Replaces "embarrassment" with "humiliation" and uses "compounding" to emphasize the increase in the feeling.

exacerbating the shame

Substitutes "embarrassment" with "shame" and uses "exacerbating" to suggest a worsening of the feeling.

further intensifying the awkwardness

Replaces "embarrassment" with "awkwardness" and uses "further intensifying" to highlight the growing discomfort.

aggravating the disgrace

Substitutes "embarrassment" with "disgrace" and uses "aggravating" to convey a more severe increase in negative feeling.

worsening the already humiliating situation

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the "humiliating situation" and indicates that it is becoming worse.

making matters even more awkward

Uses a more conversational tone to express that the situation is becoming increasingly awkward.

piling on the shame

Employs a more idiomatic expression to convey the idea of adding more shame to an existing situation.

inflaming the mortification

Replaces "embarrassment" with "mortification" and uses "inflaming" to suggest heightened intensity.

heightening the indignity

Substitutes "embarrassment" with "indignity" and uses "heightening" to denote an increase in the feeling of being treated poorly.

augmenting the chagrin

Uses the more formal word "chagrin" in place of "embarrassment" and "augmenting" to indicate an increase.

FAQs

How can I use "adding to the embarrassment" in a sentence?

You can use "adding to the embarrassment" to describe a situation where something makes an already embarrassing situation even worse. For example, "Not only did he forget her name, but "adding to the embarrassment", he spilled his drink on her."

What can I say instead of "adding to the embarrassment"?

You can use alternatives like "compounding the humiliation", "exacerbating the shame", or "further intensifying the awkwardness" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "adding to the embarrassment"?

While grammatically correct, "adding to the embarrassment" might be too informal for academic or highly professional contexts. Consider using more sophisticated vocabulary to suit the register.

How does "adding to the embarrassment" differ from "adding insult to injury"?

"Adding to the embarrassment" focuses on intensifying a feeling of shame or awkwardness, while "adding insult to injury" implies that a bad situation is made even worse by a deliberate act of offense or harm.