squirm
gb/skwˈɚm/ us/skwˈɚm/
B2
English
ficánkol, fészkelődik, tekereg, feszeng, kibújik valami alól, kitér valami elől, fészkelődés, feszengés
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] squirms (around/about) (in/on/under [place])
The toddler squirmed and tried to climb out of the high chair.
A kisgyerek ficánkolt, és megpróbált kimászni az etetőszékből.
The worm squirmed in the dirt after the rain.
Az eső után a féreg tekergett a földben.
He squirmed under the heavy backpack straps, trying to get comfortable.
Learner examples
The baby squirmed in my arms.
A baba ficánkolt a karomban.
I squirmed in my seat.
Fészkelődtem a székemben.
Common mistake:
Don’t use it for normal walking or dancing; it suggests small, uncomfortable, twisting movements.
Meaning
wriggle and twist your body
Collocations
squirm in your chair
|squirm in bed
|squirm on the floor
|squirm under the blanket
|squirm in someone's arms
|squirm and twist
|squirm helplessly
|squirm away
|squirm around
|squirm free
Synonyms
wriggle (Very close; often used for small quick movements.)
|
twist (More general; focuses on turning rather than constant wriggling.)
Antonyms
keep still (Not moving your body.)
|
settle (Become calm and stop moving around.)
Themes
body
|movement
|daily_life
Definition
To move your body by twisting and turning a lot.
To move with quick twisting and wriggling motions, especially because you are uncomfortable, excited, or trying to get free.
VERB
B2
2
feszeng
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] squirms (at/with [something])
I squirmed when he mentioned my mistake in front of everyone.
Feszengtem, amikor mindenki előtt megemlítette a hibámat.
She squirmed under his stare and changed the subject.
Feszengeni kezdett a tekintete alatt, és témát váltott.
The graphic scene made some viewers squirm.
Learner examples
I squirmed with embarrassment.
Zavaromban feszengtem.
That comment made me squirm.
Attól a megjegyzéstől feszengeni kezdtem.
Common mistake:
‘Squirm’ here is not only a feeling; it often implies nervous body movement too.
Meaning
feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
Collocations
squirm with embarrassment
|squirm with discomfort
|squirm at the thought
|squirm at the question
|squirm under pressure
|squirm under scrutiny
|squirm inside
|squirm uneasily
|squirm nervously
|make someone squirm
Synonyms
cringe (Stronger and more sudden; often a reaction to something awkward.)
|
feel uneasy (More general and less physical.)
Antonyms
feel at ease (Comfortable and relaxed.)
|
relax (Become calm rather than tense or awkward.)
Themes
emotions
|social_interaction
|communication
Definition
To feel very uncomfortable or embarrassed.
To feel embarrassed, guilty, or uncomfortable, often showing it by shifting or moving nervously.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] squirms out of [something]
He tried to squirm out of paying his share of the bill.
Megpróbált kibújni a számla rá eső részének kifizetése alól.
The witness squirmed out of the question with a vague answer.
A tanú egy ködös válasszal kitért a kérdés elől.
You can’t squirm out of your responsibilities forever.
Learner examples
He squirmed out of doing the homework.
Kibújt a házi feladat megcsinálása alól.
Common mistake:
This sense is most common in the pattern ‘squirm out of’; don’t say ‘squirm from’ for this meaning.
Meaning
avoid a duty or question
Collocations
squirm out of responsibility
|squirm out of answering
|squirm out of a commitment
|squirm out of trouble
|squirm out of doing the work
|try to squirm out of it
|squirm out of an obligation
|squirm out of paying
|squirm out of a promise
|squirm out of the question
Synonyms
wriggle out of (Very close; often slightly more common than ‘squirm out of’.)
|
dodge (More direct; focuses on avoiding rather than excuses.)
Antonyms
accept (Agree to take responsibility instead of avoiding it.)
|
own up (Admit the truth rather than evading.)
Themes
communication
|work
|law
|social_interaction
Definition
To avoid doing something by using excuses.
To try to avoid doing something you should do, or avoid giving a direct answer, usually by making excuses or using clever evasions.
NOUN
C1
4
fészkelődés
B2
feszengés
B2
Usage pattern:
give [someone] a squirm; a squirm of [emotion/discomfort]
He gave a squirm when the teacher called on him.
Fészkelődött egyet, amikor a tanár felszólította.
A squirm of discomfort ran through the audience during the tense scene.
Kínos feszengés futott végig a közönségen a feszült jelenet alatt.
Common mistake:
The noun is less common than the verb; learners often only need the verb.
Meaning
a wriggling movement
Collocations
a squirm of discomfort
|a squirm of embarrassment
|give a squirm
|a sudden squirm
|an awkward squirm
|a guilty squirm
Synonyms
wriggle (Common noun for a twisting movement.)
|
twist (More general; not always repeated or nervous.)
Antonyms
stillness (No movement at all.)
Themes
body
|movement
|emotions
Definition
A small twisting movement.
A quick twisting or wriggling movement of the body, often showing discomfort or impatience.
Grammar
Dictionary form
squirm
IPA
GB/skwˈɚm/
US/skwˈɚm/
Syllables & stress
squirm (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (squirm)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: squirm
- Plural: squirms
Verb
- Base: squirm
- 3rd Person Singular: squirms
- Present Participle: squirming
- Past: squirmed
Expressions
make [someone] squirm
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn skwˈɚm/
fixed phrase
cause embarrassment or discomfort
To make someone feel very uncomfortable or embarrassed.
Examples
- His teasing questions made her squirm.
- That cringe joke will make anyone squirm.
- The interviewer’s silence seemed designed to make him squirm.
Learner examples
- That question made me squirm.
squirm in your seat
1/skwˈɚm ˈɪn jˈʊɹ sˈit/
fixed phrase
shift nervously while sitting
To move a lot in your chair because you feel uncomfortable.
Examples
- He squirmed in his seat as the meeting dragged on.
- She squirmed in her seat when her name was mentioned.
- The scary parts of the movie had me squirming in my seat.
Learner examples
- I squirmed in my seat.
watch [someone] squirm
1/wˈɔt͡ʃ sˈʌmwˌʌn skwˈɚm/
fixed phrase
observe someone’s discomfort
To watch someone feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.
Examples
- He asked the question and then watched her squirm.
- I hated myself for enjoying the chance to watch him squirm.
- The crowd fell quiet, watching the speaker squirm under the criticism.