the 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:
  • awkward squad
  • 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
Denise - who recently won Celebrity Big Brother - was full of smiles with new man Lincoln last Thursday at The Awkward Squad bash.
Unfortunately for Blair it would result in a cull of loyalists rather than a rash of defeats for the 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.
"He is having to make some very difficult decisions today on foreign and domestic policy and if some of the awkward squad don't like that, then tough."
The LMC is a staff association of GPs and, naturally enough, its first concern is the well-being of general practitioners rather than the awkward squad known as the general public.
TELLING those lefties apart is never easy, especially members of the awkward squad.
In the programme, the playwright says The Awkward Squad is "about family, failure, feminism and the future".
The 45-year-old, who has reinvented himself as a stand-up comedian since leaving Westminster, said he was not "trying to be a member of the awkward squad", adding: "I just think I could run London well and my libertarian approach could be good for the city." In his comedy act, he has told audiences: "There is one job that seems to suit me - a funny name, little bit odd sometimes, quirky, a chequered background and ex-MP - Mayor of London."
As much as they can add a diplomatic gloss to events, the reversing Mercury and Mars represent the awkward squad. If you push too hard at work, later in the week when conditions improve, any cross words will be remembered.
The Harborne councilor and long-time member of the awkward squad is infuriating city council leader Mike Whitby with his ceaseless scepticism about the project, which Alden fears has no chance of delivering promised pounds 1.5 billion savings over the next 10 years.
Government whips are seeking to "cull" Labour's more elderly MPs and fully paid up members of the Awkward Squad.
Unlike most voters, when I hear a member of the awkward squad stand up to denounce their own party's latest plans I tend to think "hypocrite" rather than "hero".
Private Dennis Canavan, of the Awkward Squad, loosed a dud Exocet in the direction of "a British Prime Minister appearing on the international stage as an apologist for George Dubya Bush with a bomb in one hand and a loaf of bread in the other".
One MP said : "There seems to be an inner circle of those who are looked upon fav- ourably and others who are discounted as has-beens and the awkward squad.