squirm
/skwɜːm/ (bre, ipa) · /skwɜːrm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskwərm/ (ame, mw) · /skwɝːm/ (ame, ipa)
squirm — verb
- squirmpresent simple I / you / we / they
- squirmshe / she / it
- squirmedpast simple
- squirming-ing form
1. to keep twisting and turning your body in small restless movements, usually beca
to keep twisting and turning your body in small restless movements, usually because you are uncomfortable, in pain, or trying to get loose
The toddler squirmed in his car seat for the whole long drive home.
squirm in + place for restless movement
Rafael held the wet puppy gently, but it squirmed until he set it down.
squirm to get loose from a hold
A worm squirmed across the muddy path after the heavy rain.
Tamar squirmed free of the tight blanket and kicked it onto the floor.
The children twisted and squirmed on the hard bench, unable to sit still.
- stay still
the opposite is keeping the body calm and motionless
文法句型
squirm + adverb (free, away, around)
squirm in/on + place
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or animal that cannot stay still. Distinguish from sense 2: here the movement is physical, not the feeling of embarrassment.
常見錯誤
2. to feel so embarrassed or uneasy about a situation that you wish you could escap
to feel so embarrassed or uneasy about a situation that you wish you could escape it
Saira squirmed with embarrassment when the teacher read her diary aloud.
squirm with + embarrassment
The host's rude joke made every guest at the table squirm.
make someone squirm
Kofi began to squirm as the interviewer asked about his old lie.
Watching the actor forget his lines made the whole audience squirm.
- relax
feel calm and at ease instead of uncomfortable
文法句型
squirm with + embarrassment/shame
make someone squirm
用法筆記
Frequently appears as 'make someone squirm' to describe causing discomfort on purpose. Distinguish from sense 1: no real body movement is needed, only the feeling.
常見錯誤
squirm — noun
- squirmsingular
- squirmsplural
1. a quick twisting movement of the body, often made because you feel restless or u
a quick twisting movement of the body, often made because you feel restless or uneasy
With a quick squirm, the small cat slipped out of Hari's hands.
with a squirm + escape
Élise gave a little squirm of guilt when the missing money came up.
a squirm of + emotion
The baby twisted away from the spoon with a stubborn squirm.
Yan felt a sudden squirm of guilt as the headteacher named the broken window.
文法句型
a squirm of + emotion
give a squirm
用法筆記
Often follows 'a' or 'a little' and is paired with a body action or an emotion (a squirm of guilt). The verb form is far more common than this noun.