(as) awkward as a cow on a crutch

Very clumsy or uncoordinated. When my toddler was first learning to walk, she was awkward as a cow on a crutch. He'll never make the basketball team—he's as awkward as a cow on a crutch. Yeah, you'll be awkward as a cow on a crutch for a while, but once you get used to it, you'll be surprised by how fun ice skating becomes.

(as) awkward as a cow on roller skates

Very clumsy or uncoordinated. When my toddler was first learning to walk, she was as awkward as a cow on roller skates. He'll never make the basketball team—he's awkward as a cow on roller skates. Yeah, you'll be awkward as a cow on roller skates for a while, but once you get used to it, you'll be surprised by how fun ice skating becomes.

See also: awkward, cow, on, roller, skate

all kinds of (something)

slang Extremely; very. Oh, their family is all kinds of dysfunctional! That movie was all kinds of awesome! I can't wait to see it again. No, I don't want to buy this spooky old house—it's all kinds of rundown!

an awkward customer

A troublesome person. I don't want Joe to join the club, he's just such an awkward customer. Sally's here again? Ugh, she's such an awkward customer, and I don't have the energy to deal with her today. I always thought Tom was an awkward customer, until he joined our department. He's actually really nice, once you get to know him!

awkward age

The period between childhood and adulthood, which many find to be the most difficult to navigate emotionally. I always cringe when I look back at the stuff I wrote during my awkward age, so full of angst and self-importance. My daughter's been so moody and withdrawn lately. I know she's at that awkward age, but I'm starting to get concerned. You may think you're a grown-up now, but you're only 20 years old—the awkward age isn't that far behind you!

awkward squad

A group of individuals within a unit or organization who do not cooperate, accept change, or act in the group's interest, either deliberately or due to incompetence. This awkward squad of senators is causing headaches for both parties. When is the awkward squad finally going to retire? They have so much vacation time that they're hardly ever in the office anyway! Your biggest challenge in your new role will be managing that awkward squad of employees who think they can do whatever they want.

be all kinds of (something)

slang To have or exhibit an extreme degree of some quality or characteristic. Don't be surprised if a shouting match starts in the middle of dinner. Their family is all kinds of dysfunctional! That movie was all kinds of awesome! I can't wait to see it again. No, I don't want to buy this spooky old house—it's all kinds of rundown!

like a bull in a china shop

1. adjective Recklessly clumsy or indelicate. My son is always like a bull in a china shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum. Surrounding him with valuables does not seem like a wise idea!

2. adverb In a recklessly aggressive and tactless manner. This is a complex problem, and if you go about dealing with it like a bull in a china shop, you will alienate a lot of people.

place (one) in an awkward position

To cause one to be in a situation or scenario that could prove to be embarrassing or damaging to one's reputation, career, relationship with someone else, etc. Because I'm good friends with both Jack and Jenny, their breakup places me in a really awkward position. I hope you realize that it will place us in an awkward position if you decide to leave the company right now.

put (one) in an awkward position

To cause one to be in a situation or scenario that could prove to be embarrassing or damaging to one's reputation, career, relationship with someone else, etc. Because I'm such good friends with both Jack and Jenny, their breakup puts me in a really awkward position. I hope you realize that it will put us in an awkward position if you decide to leave the company right now.

*awkward as a cow on a crutch

and *awkward as a cow on roller skates

very clumsy or off balance. (*Also: as ~.) When Lulu was overweight, she was awkward as a cow on a crutch. Tom will never be a gymnast. He's as awkward as a cow on roller skates!

*bull in a china shop

Prov. a very clumsy creature in a delicate situation. (*Typically: as awkward as ~; like ~.) I never know what to say at a funeral. I feel like a bull in a china shop, trampling on feelings without even meaning to. Lester felt like a bull in a china shop; reaching for an orange, he made several elaborate pyramids of fruit tumble down.

place someone in an awkward position

Fig. to put someone in an embarrassing or delicate situation. Your decision places me in an awkward position. I'm afraid I have put myself in sort of an awkward position.

put someone in an awkward position

to make a situation difficult for someone; to make it difficult for someone to evade or avoid acting. Your demands have put me in an awkward position. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid I've put myself in sort of an awkward position.

bull in a china shop

An extremely clumsy person, as in Her living room, with its delicate furniture and knickknacks, made him feel like a bull in a china shop . The precise origin for this term has been lost; it was first recorded in Frederick Marryat's novel, Jacob Faithful (1834).

the awkward age

adolescence.

the awkward squad

a squad composed of recruits and soldiers who need further training.

Shortly before his death Robert Burns is reported to have said, ‘Don't let the awkward squad fire over me’. Nowadays, the expression is often used to refer to a group of people who are regarded as tiresome or difficult to deal with.

like a bull in a china shop

behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where you are likely to cause damage or injury.

the ˈawkward age

the period when some young people have difficulties as they approach adult life: ‘Gary seems such a quiet boy.’ ‘Oh, he’s just at that awkward age — he’ll soon grow out of it.’

like a ˌbull in a ˈchina shop

very careless or clumsy, especially in a situation where you need to be careful: He was like a bull in a china shop, treading on everyone’s feet and apologizing constantly. ♢ The Prime Minister went into the negotiations like a bull in a china shop and only made the relations between the two countries worse.

bull in a china shop

Clumsily destructive. An early written example of the expression appeared in Frederick Marryat's 1834 novel, Jacob Faithful , although the image of a bull wrecking havoc as he wandered among tables and shelves of fine porcelain can be traced a century earlier. The expression can also be found in several European languages, although the animal in question is an elephant. In 1940, an American press agent led a bull through a New York City china shop as a publicity stunt. The bull didn't break anything, but a bystander trying to avoid the bull backed into a table and caused the damage.