A course of action or combination of words used by a victim of an awkward situation, used to
lessen the
awkwardness, but
in the long run, increasing the depth of awkwardness.
Example:
I thought I saw my friend the other day from behind, so I slapped his head.
To my surprise, someone I had never seen in my life
turned around. My body involuntarily began doing fills such as pretending to text someone, pretending to see someone I knew on the other side of the room, and looking around, hoping I will actually see someone I know to
save me from the situation. I painfully walked away from the person without saying anything.