Want to crawl into a hole - 英语词汇详解

Meaning 1：extreme embarrassment (Want to crawl into a hole)

Want to crawl into a hole 🔊

/wɑːnt tə krɔːl ˈɪntuː ə hoʊl/

verb phrase (idiom)

A feeling of extreme embarrassment or shame where you wish you could disappear or hide from everyone.

extreme embarrassment 🔊

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/ɪkˈstriːm ɪmˈbærəsmənt/

verb phrase (idiom)

A strong feeling of shame or humiliation, often leading to a desire to hide or escape the situation.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Metaphor from animal behavior: retreating into a hole to escape danger or shame.

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a person with a red face crawling into a hole to hide after an awkward moment.

📖 Example

When I accidentally called my new teacher "mom" in front of the whole class, I wanted to crawl into a hole. 🔊 When I accidentally called my new teacher "mom" in front of the whole class, I wanted to crawl into a hole.

🔗 Collocations

crawl into a hole – to hide from embarrassment

want the ground to swallow one up – to wish for an escape from shame

die of embarrassment – to feel extremely embarrassed

🔄 Synonyms

be mortified (verb phrase) – to feel very embarrassed or ashamed

feel like hiding (verb phrase) – to have a strong urge to conceal oneself due to shame

🚫 Antonyms

be proud (verb phrase) – to feel satisfaction or pleasure in one's achievements

feel confident (verb phrase) – to have a sense of self-assurance and lack of embarrassment

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from the universal human desire to disappear when embarrassed, likened to a small animal hiding in a hole. Common in informal English to express deep shame.