Expression 'embarrassed of' on TV commercials

[GrannyJules]

I've been hearing the expression 'embarrassed of' on TV commercials. It just sounds wrong to me. Should they be 'embarrassed BY' their stretch marks, rather than 'embarrassed OF' the stretch marks????

If OF is correct, can you explain why, and if so, when was this changed?

[Esl_Expert]

Hello GrannyJules,

Out of curiosity, have you been hearing this on American TV? British TV? Aussie TV? Canadian TV? Some other kind of TV?

At any rate, I agree that the collocation "embarrassed by" is very commonly used. However, the word "embarrassed" is also used in other ways. "Embarrassed of" strikes me as an alternative way of saying "embarrassed about". The use of "embarrassed about" strikes me as neither new nor unusual. It also strikes me as a standard sort of usage. Although I don't think I usually hear people say "embarrassed of" instead of "embarrassed about", the use of "of" doesn't bother me.

In addition, there are similarly constructed expressions such as "ashamed of" and "frightened of". So, I would find it difficult to categorize "embarrassed of" as being completely incorrect. I think it's entirely possible that this collocation has seen usage (albeit probably limited) for quite a while, and that the frequency of usage has simply increased recently.

[Kitosdad]

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If you need me, I'm here.

[Alan]

Hi GrannyJules,

Stuff happens. Who knows? Another 'of' fashion is 'fed up of' in contrast to 'fed up with'.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A funny thing happened...

[MariaEbb]

It's the same with the word hey...
/Maria

[GrannyJules]

I have heard it on American TV.

[Esl_Expert]

Hello GrannyJules,

You must pay much closer attention to the commercials than I do then.
I tend to tune those out whenever I watch TV. I'll have to start listening for "embarrassed of" in the commercials.

Here is a quote that uses "embarrassed at":
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"I never had any ambition to be a star, or whatever it is called, and I'm still embarrassed at the word." ~ John Hurt

[GrannyJules]

The particular commercial I've seen it on repeatedly is for some cream for stretch marks. I, too, fast forward through most commercials, except during my one hour at lunch time, where I'm at work and I don't have a DVR.

The quote is "I'm embarrassed of my stretch marks". I've gotten some responses where people are telling me that things change and so on, but some things just don't sound right. Another phrase that really bothers is 'the both of you'.

When I read a phrase with missing or incorrectly used apostrophes or missing words, I just get annoyed and I can't ignore them. I'm just trying to find out if grammar rules have been changing or, more likely, nobody pays any attention to them anymore. It's like spelling....it just doesn't seem to matter anymore. I wonder if they even teach it in school!

I have a copy of the book 'Eats, shoots, and Leaves'. I guess I am a true pedantic. (My son told me I was and I had to look it up! LOL)

[Esl_Expert]

I do understand your reaction to a usage that seems odd to you. I lived for quite a few years over in Europe, and when I returned to the US, all kinds of people were saying "My bad" instead of "Sorry, that was my fault" or something "old-fashioned" like that. It took me a good year before I stopped cringing every time I heard someone use that particular expression.

______________________
“I never made a mistake in grammar but one in my life and as soon as I done it I seen it.” ~ Carl Sandburg

[Azhdar]

Dear GrannyJules

may be you have been hearing mistake this on American TV?
in my Idea the collocation "embarrassed by" is very commonly used.
thanks

[GrannyJules]

I also had to look up 'collocation'. Thanks for expanding my vocabulary!

[Azhdar]

thanks.
but my english skills level is low.
and today I enrolled in this site to improve it by your comments and helps
thanks