awkward squad

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.
See also: awkward, squad
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
See also: awkward, squad
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • squad
  • the awkward squad
  • look right through (one)
  • look straight through (one)
  • in no way
  • in no sense
  • look through
  • look through (one)
  • give (one) the silent treatment
  • give someone the silent treatment
References in periodicals archive
"The right wing, the hardline anti-EU awkward squad that have destroyed every leader for the last 40 years are now running the Conservative Party from top to toe.
Reason for leaving: "The right-wing, the hardline anti-EU awkward squad that have destroyed every leader for the last 40 years are now running the Conservative Party from top to toe." Broxtowe, Notts Majority 863
So, is he a paid-up member of the awkward squad? "All I ask for is for people to keep their word.
So, if you find yourself encountering the Awkward Squad, take a deep breath, clench your teeth, smile sweetly and just be doubly determined to get things moving fast, from tomorrow.
When white Bulawayans dominated the city they also opposed the country's capital, then called Salisbury, at just about every turn and black Bulawayans were an awkward squad, too.
One recent article in The Economist referred to the CEE countries as "the awkward squad", which caused a quiet outrage.
I do not wish boost egos even further by describing them as the Awkward Squad, something I feel sure they would wear as a badge of honour.
'Mother of God', You awkward squad. You drive me mad;
The Viva Palestina convoy is being given the run-around by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and his 'Awkward Squad'.
(7) Ritter notes that James Berlin initially pointed her to the history of writing instruction at Harvard and Yale, writing that in his Rhetoric and Reality Berlin mentioned that Yale "in the late twenties introduced a noncredit course called the 'Awkward Squad' to provide remedial instruction" for students seen as deficient in their writing (9).
The proposal is supported by the Czech Republic, though more out of an attachment to the logic of an awkward squad' than from true commitment.
"O'Leary seems to be the natural fit given the make-up of the new consortium but he has been cultivating a reputation as a member of the awkward squad, so it may not be quite as simple as that," said Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchison.
"He was a hard-working constituency MP but he did not always chime with the message and he was one of our awkward squad."
Enter chief cheer-leader for the awkward squad, Albert Nobbs.
The downfall of Alun Michael means he's under no illusions that when the going gets tough, the awkward squad are apt to get the knifes out.