35 Hilariously Awkward Moments People Completely Misread Social Cues
Social cues are hard. Some people can walk into a room and immediately read the vibe. The rest of us are just hoping not to shake a waiter’s hand when he’s only reaching for the menu. These awkward moments are the kind of secondhand embarrassment you can feel in your spine.
It all started when YouTuber and creator Connor Flannery (@connorpugs) posted a viral reel on Instagram asking his followers to share the most painfully awkward times they completely misread social cues. The responses poured in and they did not disappoint.
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.
2.
Started going “woo” during a theater meeting ’cause someone else was… turns out those were involuntary tics I was mimicking.
3.
Someone knocked on the bathroom stall, I panicked and said, “come in,” and THEY DID.
4.
Shook the waiter’s hand when he was gesturing for me to hand him the menu. Never recovered.
5.
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?”
6.
I was at a red light, and as the light turned green, several more cars kept going through the light. I started honking my horn and cursing at the cars, and I started edging up to go because they just kept coming through, and finally someone yelled, “it’s a funeral procession!!!”
7.
After a job interview, the manager said, “lovely meeting you,” and I answered, “love you too.”
8.
One time someone said, “what’s up my dog!?” (I was new to English slang, not my first 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.
9.
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, “I’m sorry, I’m 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.
10.
I’m a waitress. Typically, as soon as the table sets, I bring chips and salsa along with a hot soup! There was a toddler about 2 years old sitting on the edge with her high chair. So 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, and as I look for the baby’s hands, she had no arms.
11.
I answered several questions with full confidence not knowing that person was on a phone call talking to someone else.
12.
I was buying a slushie that was $3.28, 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…”
13.
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.”
14.
I once asked a woman if I could pet her baby.
15.
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.
16.
I was walking out of a store, and I thought some random person’s car was my mom’s car, so I opened the door, and someone was sitting there, and I screamed.
17.
Last night my neighbor was walking by my house, and instead of waving hello, I started clapping… as I said hi.
18.
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.
19.
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.”
20.
The Rainforest Café 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.
21.
As a bartender, I once said, “It’s no good, all worries,” to a customer. I still think about it.
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.
Hugged the CEO of my company ’cause I thought he was giving the signal for the handshake-to-hug. He was not.
24.
Was buying pastries in a bakery, said “you’re welcome!” when the cashier asked if I would pay with cash or card.
25.
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.”
26.
One time I went on a hike with my boyfriend and his family, like two months into dating (and this was the first weekend I got to meet them because they live halfway across the country). His grandmother had passed away that year, and they had this little Tupperware with them. I forget why I thought it was relevant, but I went, “oh, is that taffy?” And then was told no—it was in fact some of her mother’s ashes.
27.
I was at prom, and I saw my senior friend and her boyfriend sitting on a bench outside. So I walk over and say, “well, if it isn’t my favorite couple!” Little did I realize her boyfriend had literal tears streaming down his face. They were breaking up.
28.
Almost hit a woman walking her child with my bike ’cause I was doing my Duolingo while riding. I was thinking about Spanish, so I just said “español” as I rode away.
29.
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.
30.
Instead of saying “madam” to a client, I called her “mommy.”
31.
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.”
32.
In an effort to sympathize with someone who said that she has “pretty severe epilepsy,” I promptly responded with, “aww, so does my cat.” The silence that followed was so loud.
33.
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 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.
34.
The executive in a shop wished me “Merry Christmas” thrice. I couldn’t understand, so I said it’s OK because I was too embarrassed to ask again. The fourth time, the person and his colleagues yelled “Merry Christmas” in a chorus.
35.
Was writing for an exam, and when the exam was over, a teacher came to me and put his hand forward, and nonchalant me gave my hand back as if it was a marriage proposal, not realizing he was there collecting pens they provided us. I failed the exam, and failed in life as well.