There’s not a single person in the world who hasn’t embarrassed themselves in a social situation. No matter how charismatic and smooth you think you are, everyone’s brain goes ‘derp’ from time to time, leading to a bunch of awkwardness.
In a viral reel on Instagram, popular YouTuber Connor Flannery (@connorpugs) asked his followers to share the most jaw-droppingly bad moments when they misread social cues. Scroll down for their stories. Just… get ready for more secondhand embarrassment than watching The Office.
#1
Not me but a coworker. I work at Chick-Fil-A and I was working with a new guy who was being trained with my friend. The new guy kept on trying to make sure he said "my pleasure" and "they'll have your food at the window" but once he messed up and said "they'll pleasure you at the window." I couldn't stop laughing the whole shift.
Image credits: coen_7.5
#2
Someone knocked on the bathroom stall, I panicked and said "come in" and THEY DID.
Image credits: juan.amexican
#3
Started going “woo” during a theater meeting cuz someone else was… turns out those were involuntary ticks I was mimicking.
Image credits: aidan_ferrar
Broadly speaking, the best way to handle any socially awkward and embarrassing situations is to lean into them. Your first reactions might be to pretend that nothing happened, to defend yourself, or to run away.
However, when you acknowledge that you messed up (with a liberal addition of humor on top), you end up coming out on top. Not only do you defuse the awkwardness by accepting what happened, but you also appear approachable and down-to-earth to everyone else.
And it’s not like you can perfectly avoid embarrassing yourself. It’s going to happen sooner or later. So, it’s smarter to learn how to react healthily now than to blunder around in the future.
#4
Walked into a room of people praying silently, didn't realize they were praying so I shouted "geez why is it so depressing in here?"
Image credits: its.atalex
#5
After a job interview the manager said "lovely meeting you" and I answered "love you too".
Image credits: kupiecpatrycja
#6
I was at a red light and as the light turned green several more cars kept going thru the light. I started honking my horn and cursing at the cars and I started edging up to go because they just kept coming thru and finally someone yelled "it's a funeral procession [jerk]!!!".
Image credits: _e_v_y_b_o_y_
The fear is that all of your embarrassment can turn into deep-seated shame if you keep ignoring your feelings. And the odds are that you don’t want memories of socially awkward encounters haunting your steps for the next few decades.
If you have trouble coming to terms with the mistakes you’ve made, you may want to reach out to a therapist. They’ll help you reframe your experiences and empower you. They’ll also help you create the behavioral tools you need to react to social stress better.
Just keep in mind that therapy isn’t magic. Mental health specialists guide and support you, but you have to do all the heavy emotional work yourself.
#7
One time at the cashier I was asked if I wanted the items double or single bagged. But I thought I heard "Are you single?" So, I confidently was like, "Im sorry, Im married" Showing my wedding ring. And the dude was like, "noooo.. noooo.. I asked if you want it single or double bagged." I wanted to disappear. I awkwardly laughed while I paid and left.
Image credits: raquelq.amezaga
#8
One time someone said "what's up my dog!?" (I was new to English slang, not 1st language) I said "nothing much my weiner!" Like a weiner dog. Turns out that's not the saying, and he wasn't talking to me.
Image credits: madelynbentleyy
#9
The cashier told me to "have a good day" but i had my headphones on and thought she said "do you need a receipt" so i said "no thank you" and she just said " oh ok."
Image credits: shaylamitchell
According to Verywell Mind, it’s important that you accept that embarrassment is unavoidable, but also temporary. “It’s not about trying to avoid [embarrassing moments] altogether (spoiler: that’s impossible), but more about being mentally prepared to handle them like a pro when they happen.”
To cope with those situations better, you should try to visualize positive outcomes. You’ll be less anxious if you imagine yourself handling embarrassment well.
What’s more, you can look at embarrassment as an opportunity to strengthen your resilience. In other words, you get better with practice. You’ll slowly build more and more confidence.
#10
I answered several questions with full confidence not knowing that person was on a phone call talking to someone else.
Image credits: her_xxim
#11
I was buying a slushie that was 3.28 dollars and I gave him 3. He said "you need 28 more cents" but I thought he said you have an extra 28 cents so I said "oh no that's okay" and he was like "you still have to pay..."
Image credits: 402.roseee
#12
I was walking out of a store and I thought some random persons car was my moms car so I opened the door and someone was sitting there and I screamed.
What is the most socially awkward situation that you’ve ever found yourself in, Pandas? What is the latest social cue you missed that made you feel deeply embarrassed?
How do you tend to react when you mess up and find yourself stuck in situations like these? Share your thoughts and advice in the comments section at the very bottom of this post.
#13
I'm a waitress... typically as soon as the table sets I bring chips & salsa along with a hot soup !! There was a toddler about 2 years old sitting on the edge with her high chair!
Soooo as I was placing down the things I covered the soups and said "ohh be careful, I don't want her accidentally putting her hand in."
They all look at each other & as I look for the baby's hands, she had no arms.😭😭😭😭
Image credits: xo.j.m
#14
Worked at a gas station, guy comes in and says "I'm at pump 8, can I get some gas?" And I say "would you like that in a cup or a cone?" Idk what I was on.
#15
Was in an elevator with a woman in a wheelchair. Me being me, decided small talk was a good idea. First line I opened with was "great day to go for a jog really".
Image credits: adrenolean
#16
The rainforest cafe in galveston has a ride and the same worker directed us to the ride, sold us tickets, operated the ride, and was at the gift shop counter, my mom said "oh my god you keep popping up like an oompa loompa."
He also happened to be short and mixed.
Image credits: alaraalderson
#17
Knew someone who had cancer, they were talking to me about a big procedure and I was listening intently, nodding and giving responses. I even said "thank you so much for telling me it means a lot that you'd talk to me about something like this". ... They were on the phone with someone else! It went on for five minutes before I realized.
Image credits: rini_denni
#18
Shook the waiter's hand when he was gesturing for me to hand him the menu.
Never recovered.
Image credits: angm615
#19
I once asked a woman if I could pet her baby.
Image credits: its_Onion
#20
Last night my neighbor was walking by my house and instead of waving hello I started clapping...as I said hi.
#21
Instead of saying 'madam' to a client, I called her 'mommy' 😭💀
Image credits: prodriguet
#22
Art class…there was this girl next to me drawing a full body OC and I said “I love your body!” she said “thank you- wait what?”
#23
When I started working at Chick-fil-a, I was learning to say "my pleasure" instead of "you're welcome". I once told a guest "you're my pleasure."
Image credits: mcintosh_twila0416
#24
I was in a store with my husband and i was looking for a perfume. I accidentally hurt a woman with my purse, said sorry to her and told her “sorry i didn’t see you”. She replied “Don’t mind. Me too.” She was blind 😭
#25
As a bartender I once said "It's no good, all worries" to a customer. I still think about it.
Image credits: residentoak
#26
I was at prom and I saw my senior friend and her bf sitting on a bench outside. So I walk over and I say "well if it isn't my favorite couple" little did I realize her bf had literal tears streaming down his face. They were breaking up.
Image credits: spamiia2
#27
One time I went on a hike with my boyfriend and his family like 2 months into dating (and this was the first weekend I got to meet them bc they live halfway across the country) and his grandmother had [passed away] that year and they had this little Tupperware with them and the mom (whose mom was the one who passed away) had pulled it out and I forget why I thought it was relevant (I think they wanted to buy some taffy earlier in the way while we were shopping around) but I went "oh is that taffy?" And then was told no -it was in fact some of her mothers ashes and then they spread them in a beautiful spot on the hike and cried together and it was so sweet and I was mortified.
Thankfully my bf and his dad thought it was funny and no one was truly offended bc I wasn't told prior that this was happening at all but I wanted to [disappear] in that moment.
Image credits: _.erin.rose._
#28
Hugged the CEO of my company cuz I thought he was giving the signal for the Handshake-to-hug. He was not.
Image credits: miranda.lynn.k
#29
At college my friend invited me to sit with him and his friends while we were getting food and before we sat down. I went to a random group of girls thinking that was the table and that he just hadn't sat down yet. I started chatting and I asked them if they knew my friend and they were like "um no, why?" And then I realized I just barged in on their friend group.
Image credits: maria_heisey
#30
A patient of mine was getting deployed for the military a few days after their visit. As they were leaving I said "good luck with deportation."
Image credits: tay_mucci
