sheepishsheep‧ish /ˈʃiːpɪʃ/ adjective 
Sam looked a bit sheepish. a sheepish grin► see thesaurus at embarrassed—sheepishly adverb: She smiled sheepishly.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Debbie arrived late for work looking a bit sheepish.
- He gave her a sheepish look and said, "I'm very sorry, I forgot it was your birthday."
- She looked relieved at first, then a little sheepish.
- Beyond her Gav stood looking awkward and sheepish.
- Looking rather sheepish, we hesitantly listed one or two points, worrying that we might sound narcissistic or arrogant.
- Many economists avoid talking about unemployment in public, adopting a rather sheepish tone when forced to confront the issue.
- Mr Purtill also posed for a picture with Mr Major, managing to rustle up a sheepish grin.
- Then his smile became a sheepish grin and his shoulders hunched in a giggle.
- This, she thought with a sheepish giggle to herself, was ridiculous.
- When he came to the window, he blinked with a sheepish smile.
- When I confront him with his omissions and lies he just looks sheepish.
THESAURUS
feeling uncomfortable or nervous and worrying about what people think of you, for example because you have made a silly mistake, or because you have to talk or sing in public: · I was really embarrassed when I arrived at the party an hour early.· There’s no need to be embarrassed – you’ve got a lovely voice.
embarrassed about your body or the way you look or talk: · Paul had always been self-conscious about his big feet.
unable to relax because you are embarrassed and not sure what to say or do: · There was a long silence and everyone at the table looked uncomfortable.
feeling embarrassed because you are in a situation in which it is difficult to behave naturally: · Teenagers often feel awkward in formal social situations.· There were some awkward moments when neither of us knew what to say to each other.
slightly embarrassed because you know that you have done something silly or because you feel a little guilty: · Nigel came in late looking sheepish and apologetic.
embarrassed or ashamed – used mainly in newspaper reports: · A judge was left red-faced when his mobile phone rang in court.
[not before noun] extremely embarrassed and ashamed because you realize that you have done something very silly or wrong: · He said he was mortified at the way his comments had been reported in the papers.
Longman Language Activatorwords meaning embarrassed feeling uncomfortable or shy and worrying about what people think of you, for example because you have made a stupid mistake or because you have to talk about your feelings, about sex etc: · Tony spilled red wine all over their carpet. He was so embarrassed!· The teachers are supposed to teach us about 'safe sex', but most of them are too embarrassed.get/feel embarrassed: · Kids get embarrassed if their Mums kiss them in front of their friends.embarrassed about: · I got very drunk at the party, and I feel really embarrassed about it.embarrassed by/at: · Marlon was always embarrassed by his lack of education.acutely embarrassed (=very embarrassed): · "I'm not sure if I actually want to marry her," Harry said, feeling acutely embarrassed.
shy and embarrassed about your body, or about the way you look or talk: feel self-conscious: · I always feel really self-conscious in a bikini.self-conscious about: · Teenagers are often very self-conscious about their appearance.
feeling embarrassed because you cannot relax with the people around you: · All this talk about love and romance was making me uncomfortable.feel uncomfortable: · Jim always felt uncomfortable on such formal occasions.· an uncomfortable silence
feeling so shy, nervous, and embarrassed that you cannot behave in a natural way: feel awkward: · I didn't know anyone at the party, and I felt really awkward at first.an awkward moment/silence etc (=when you or other people feel awkward): · For one awkward moment I thought I had said something terribly wrong.· Carrie laughed out loud, and there was an awkward silence.
looking or feeling a little embarrassed because you feel guilty about something: · He gave her a sheepish look and said, "I'm very sorry, I forgot it was your birthday."look sheepish: · Debbie arrived late for work looking a bit sheepish.
very shocked, embarrassed, or ashamed because you realize that you have done something wrong, or because of something unpleasant that happens to you: mortified by: · Deaver was mortified by his mistake and immediately admitted that he was wrong.mortified at the thought of something: · Carla felt mortified at the thought of having to repeat another year at school.mortified to find/see etc something: · I was mortified to find that everyone else was wearing evening dress.
to feel extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable because of something stupid that you did or said, or because of something that someone else does: · Whenever I think back to what I said at the party it makes me want to squirm.squirm with embarrassment: · The little boy squirmed with embarrassment when his mother told him off in front of his friends.
spoken say this when you are telling someone about a time when you felt extremely embarrassed: · When I realized that Sally had heard every word I said about her, I could have died.
if someone, especially someone in authority has egg on their face, they have done something wrong or embarrassing in a way that makes them look stupid: · Don't underestimate this club or you'll be left with egg on your face. I've got one of the best squads ever in the Premier League.· The government ended up with egg on its face when it was found to have withheld documents for political purposes.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Sam looked a bit sheepish. a sheepish grin She smiled sheepishly.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
slightly uncomfortable or embarrassed because you know that you have done something silly or wrong: Sam looked a bit sheepish. a sheepish grin She smiled sheepishly. (=an embarrassed grin because you have done something silly or wrong)· "Sorry", he said with a sheepish grin.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Then his smile became a sheepish grin and his shoulders hunched in a giggle.· Mr Purtill also posed for a picture with Mr Major, managing to rustle up a sheepish grin.
Sam looked a bit sheepish. a sheepish grin► see thesaurus at embarrassed—sheepishly adverb: She smiled sheepishly.