walk of shame
Americannoun
Usage
What does walk of shame mean? The walk of shame is when someone goes back home the morning after partying and hooking up with someone, typically wearing the same clothes from the night before because they hadn’t planned on the sexual encounter. This use of walk of shame is often seen as sexist, because it frequently slut-shames women. Walk of shame is sometimes used in more general, non-sexual senses for when someone has to face the public after an embarrassing moment. What are some other words related to walk of shame?one-night standhook-upvictory lapNetflix and chill
Etymology
Origin of walk of shame
First recorded in 1990–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But I would be lying if I said we didn’t enjoy seeing people getting turned away and doing a kind of walk of shame to the end of the line.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2024
Meanwhile, Lupin's owner admits she has "walked the walk of shame" several times, retrieving her cat from the store.
From BBC • Dec. 25, 2022
When they do, latecomers risk taking a walk of shame with an usher — and squeezing into their row in the dark.
From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2021
And the “grand entrance” you’re harrumphing could, to her, be a walk of shame she wishes she were organized enough to avoid.
From Washington Post • Jan. 6, 2021
Images of empty seats dominated the coverage, and Twitter folks had a good time meme-ifying Trump's desultory walk of shame back to the White House.
From Salon • Jun. 22, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
