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embarras

embarrassment

noun ahn-bah-RAH Rare

Also means

predicament

Usage Note

Embarras is always written with a final silent -s in both singular and plural. It covers social embarrassment (causer de l'embarras) and a difficult situation (dans l'embarras = in a fix). The expression l'embarras du choix means 'too many choices' — literally 'the embarrassment of choice'.

Examples

"Il était dans l'embarras face à sa question."

Natural Translation

He was embarrassed by her question.

Literal Translation

He was in embarrassment in front of her question.

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