A fork of Rural Dictionary
When someone's actions other than your own embarrasses you. Also a common feeling when reading or watching something embarrassing like a show or book.
1. Person 1: Did you see that girl trip today? It was so embarrassing, she dropped everything in her hands. Person 2: Yeah, I know I couldn't handle watching her scramble around, trying to pick it up. The secondhand embarrassment was real. 2. The Character in the book was so embarrassing , that I couldn't continue reading it, cause I got secondhand embarrassment too much.