We’ve all been there — the cringeworthy moments when words come out wrong or when a heartfelt gesture like a hug goes unreciprocated, or a pause in a conversation lingers just long enough to become ...

The story goes, at least as I remember it, that when my parents sat down at the child-sized wooden chairs in our basement play room to tell me and my brother where babies came from, after a fit of ...

Ever thought your 9-to-5 couldn’t turn into a full-blown soap opera? These workplace disasters prove otherwise. From backstabbing coworkers to shocking confessions in the break room each story starts ...

Philip Galanes of the New York Times and TODAY contributor Harriette Cole weigh in on awkward situations sent in by viewers, offering the best solutions.April 21, 2011 ...

This article follows the Direct Message methodology, designed to cut through the noise and reveal the deeper truths behind the stories we live. We’ve all been there at least once: You’re invited to a ...

Thanksgiving is the Super Bowl of awkwardness. You love these people (mostly), but the scripts are fuzzy. Do we hug? Do we talk politics? What do I say when someone hits me with the third “so, how’s ...

Someone flew in for the group trip a day late, so should they still pay for yesterday’s hotel night? Someone else doesn’t drink alcohol, so do you split bottle service costs if they still sat at the ...

Have you ever found yourself on an uncomfortable date or in an awkward meeting, wishing you could leave? A fake call app can be your perfect escape tool, making it seem like you urgently need to ...

It’s happened to everyone at some point or another: You’ve forgotten to zip up a piece of clothing. There’s food between your teeth. Your body has let out an unfortunate noise. Or you’ve spilled ...