When you feel so embarrassed for someone else's actions that you feel the embarrassment for yourself as well.
Stefanie is singing loudly in Portuguese! I feel second hand embarrassment... I can't be in the same room right now.
by arisames December 6, 2009
When you cringe while watching people embarrassing/publicly humiliating themselves, especially when they DON'T deserve it. People who suffer from this are generally empaths, or they may suffer from severe social anxiety.
"I tried to tell my friends that Dave couldn't dance, but they forced him to anyway. I got second-hand embarrassment in the worst way while watching him. By the time I pulled him out, his face was the deepest shade of red imaginable, and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he was trying not to cry from embarrassment. We haven't been on speaking terms with those "friends" since that incident."
Moral of the story: Don't force people to do things they're not comfortable with, especially under protest. It may be funny to you, but you've gotta think of other people.
Moral of the story: Don't force people to do things they're not comfortable with, especially under protest. It may be funny to you, but you've gotta think of other people.
by Someone who kinda exists August 13, 2021
by frogtoaster July 17, 2020
Man, I was so second-hand embarrassed when that sang Call Me Maybe during karaoke.
Did you see just see that guy get slapped in the face by that girl? I'm so second-hand embarrassed for him.
Did you see just see that guy get slapped in the face by that girl? I'm so second-hand embarrassed for him.
by Hindenburg June 19, 2013