big yikes

Meaning

An intensified version of 'yikes,' this phrase is used to express strong cringe, shock, embarrassment, or disapproval in response to an incredibly awkward, cringey, or unfortunate situation. It highlights that a situation is not just bad, but deeply uncomfortable to witness.

Examples

• He accidentally sent an email complaining about his boss to his boss. Big yikes.

  He accidentally sent an email complaining about his boss to his boss. Big yikes.

• Did you see how empty the venue was for her concert? Big yikes.

  Did you see how empty the venue was for her concert? Big yikes.

• They got into a massive argument in the middle of the quiet restaurant. Big yikes.

  They got into a massive argument in the middle of the quiet restaurant. Big yikes.

• I forgot my own partner's birthday yesterday... yeah, big yikes.

  I forgot my own partner's birthday yesterday... yeah, big yikes.

• The company's social media post was so tone-deaf, it was a big yikes.

  The company's social media post was so tone-deaf, it was a big yikes.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I feel big yikes about the exam.

  ✓ I am worried about the exam.

  'Big yikes' is used as an exclamation or a noun phrase describing a situation, not as an adjective to describe personal feelings of worry or stress.

• ✗ He did a big yikes.

  ✓ That was a big yikes.

  You do not 'do' a big yikes. The situation itself 'is' a big yikes, or you can react to a situation by saying 'big yikes!'

Related Expressions

Practice

• She waved back at someone who was actually waving to the person behind her. ___.

  💡 A two-word phrase used for embarrassing or cringey situations

  Show answer

  big yikes

• That presentation was a ___—nobody laughed at his jokes and the slides broke.

  💡 Expresses extreme awkwardness or failure

  Show answer

  big yikes