embarrassing timing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "embarrassing timing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where the timing of an event or action is awkward or inappropriate, often causing discomfort or shame. Example: "It was embarrassing timing when I accidentally spilled my drink during the serious discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Ethics rules allow lawmakers to raise money from industries they oversee in committee roles, yet blanch at embarrassing timing.

The New York Times

Chances are the NRA submitted the app to the iTunes app store weeks before this whole debacle began and just fell victim to some very embarrassing timing.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Decisive action needs to be taken before another crisis happens with embarrassing historical timing.

Vice

THE timing was embarrassing.

The Economist

The timing is embarrassing for Israel as its prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is on a fence-mending mission in Washington.

The Guardian

The Koizumi government was particularly embarrassed by the timing of the controversy.

The New York Times

It's unfortunate timing – and slightly embarrassing for us, bearing in mind our connections with Preston.

Independent

A Virgin spokesman said: "It's unfortunate timing – and slightly embarrassing for us, bearing in mind our connections with Preston.

The Guardian - Sport

France, he said on May 13th, would take firmness lessons from nobody: "the rule with contracts is that contracts which have been signed are honoured".In this section Into battle Strange but also normal Mistral blows Death underground The eastern blockage ReprintsAt a moment when Europe and America are trying to co-ordinate sanctions against Russia, the timing is nonetheless embarrassing.

The Economist

A Virgin Trains spokesman said: "It's unfortunate timing - and slightly embarrassing for us, bearing in mind our connections with Preston.

BBC

The timing of the leak is embarrassing and the implication that Labour does not want to talk about immigration is especially damaging given that Miliband was making the issue the second of the party's five pledges.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly indicates what is causing the embarrassment due to the timing. Providing specific details helps the reader understand the full impact.

Common error

Avoid assuming the reader understands why the timing is embarrassing. Clearly articulate the connection between the event and the resulting discomfort to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "embarrassing timing" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, specifically describing the timing as embarrassing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, illustrating its descriptive capacity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "embarrassing timing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe when the timing of an event causes awkwardness or discomfort. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity. While usable in many contexts, it's most prevalent in news and media and should be used carefully in very formal settings. Alternatives like "awkward timing" or "unfortunate timing" may offer better nuance depending on the situation. When using this phrase, make sure to clearly articulate why the timing is causing embarrassment to avoid any misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awkward timing

Replaces "embarrassing" with "awkward", focusing on the uncomfortable nature of the timing.

inopportune moment

Substitutes both words to convey the idea of a particularly unsuitable time.

unfortunate timing

Highlights the bad luck associated with the specific timing.

ill-timed event

Emphasizes the poor synchronization of an event with other circumstances.

badly timed

A shorter, more direct way of saying the timing was not good.

untimely occurrence

Suggests the event happened at an unsuitable or premature time.

poorly chosen moment

Focuses on the selection of the moment as the problem.

inconvenient timing

Highlights that the timing caused trouble or difficulty.

delicate moment

Emphasizes the fragility of the situation given the timing.

sensitive juncture

Highlights that the timing is at a crucial or politically fraught moment.

FAQs

What does "embarrassing timing" mean?

"Embarrassing timing" refers to a situation where the timing of an event or action is awkward, inappropriate, or causes discomfort or shame. It implies that the situation would have been less problematic if it had occurred at a different time.

What can I say instead of "embarrassing timing"?

You can use alternatives such as "awkward timing", "inopportune moment", or "unfortunate timing" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

How to use "embarrassing timing" in a sentence?

You can use "embarrassing timing" in a sentence like: "The timing of the announcement was particularly embarrassing, given the recent scandal." This shows that the announcement's impact was worsened by when it happened.

Is "embarrassing timing" formal or informal?

"Embarrassing timing" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, you might opt for a more nuanced phrase like "inopportune moment" or "unfortunate timing" to convey a more sophisticated tone.