Meaning & use
toe-curling
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nouninformalfigurative
So embarrassing that it makes you physically cringe or squirm with discomfort.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a toe-curling moment. It is not usually used after a verb like 'be'.
Patterns
- a toe-curling moment
- toe-curling embarrassment
- toe-curlingly bad
His toe-curling attempt at a compliment made everyone stare at the floor.
The video of my first audition is genuinely toe-curling.
She described the meeting as a toe-curling disaster from start to finish.
adjectivebefore a nouninformaldisapproving
Extremely bad or awkward in a way that is painful to watch or listen to.
Grammar: Used before a noun to criticize a performance, speech, or situation: a toe-curling speech.
Patterns
- a toe-curling performance
- a toe-curling speech
The karaoke was toe-curling, but we clapped anyway.
It was a toe-curling interview that nobody wanted to watch twice.
Common combinations
- toe-curling embarrassment
- He went red with toe-curling embarrassment when he forgot her name.
- toe-curling moment
- The worst toe-curling moment was when the microphone cut out.
- absolutely toe-curling
- The whole sketch was absolutely toe-curling.
- toe-curlingly awkward
- The silence that followed was toe-curlingly awkward.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cringeworthy
- Very close in meaning and also informal, but cringeworthy is more common in general use; toe-curling often suggests a stronger physical reaction.
- embarrassing
- Neutral and more formal; toe-curling is stronger and more vivid.
- excruciating
- Can describe pain or extreme embarrassment; toe-curling is almost always about embarrassment or awkwardness.
Opposites
Word family
- toe-curlingly adverb
- In a way that is extremely embarrassing: toe-curlingly bad.
Commonly confused: toe-curling or curl-toe?
toe-curling vs curl-toe
Not a standard adjective. The usual expression is toe-curling, not 'toe-curled' or 'curl-toe'.
Practice
Which sentence uses toe-curling correctly?
Choose one answer.
Toe-curling describes an embarrassing or awkward thing, so 'a toe-curling moment' fits. Option 1 is wrong because toe-curling is negative, not funny. Option 2 needs an adjective like embarrassed, not toe-curling. Option 4 needs an adverb like awkwardly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “toe-curling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.