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Awkward. The term is usually associated with junior high and its attendant growth spurts, shyness and orthodontic appliances. But growing up doesn’t mean growing out of awkwardness. In adulthood, disconcerting situations simply take new forms – long elevator rides alone with your new boss, say, or parties where you have no one to talk to but the bartender. Happily, these uncomfortable moments are a lot easier to cope with than that set of braces was.

Sticky situation: A friend asks if she looks good in an outfit, and, unfortunately, the answer happens to be something other than yes.

Real Simple solution: Blame the clothes, not the person. “Never say, ‘You look terrible in that.’ Instead, say, ‘Those pants are wrinkly in the back and don’t show off your cute tush,’ ” says Clinton Kelly, co-host of the Learning Channel’s “What Not to Wear” and a co-author of “Dress Your Best” (Three Rivers Press, $19). “If everything in the dressing room is too tight, remember: Misery loves company. Say, ‘That brand always runs small. I tried on four pairs of pants last week before I found the right ones.’ ”

Sticky situation: You find yourself walking alongside a casual acquaintance and you don’t want to chat all the way to your destination.

Real Simple solution: If you can do it discreetly and naturally, turn a corner or “duck into a coffee shop or public restroom,” says Leil Lowndes, author of “How to Talk to Anyone” (McGraw-Hill, $15). But if that isn’t an option, it’s best simply to bring up a topic you enjoy talking about – something that elicits more interesting comments than last night’s TV shows.

Sticky situation: You’re in an elevator with someone you know you should talk to, but your mind is blank.

Real Simple solution: If your riding companion is a senior partner at work, avoid talking shop unless you’re confident that you can make an intelligent comment about a current business issue. Instead, stick to a safer subject and approach it with a unique attitude. “The weather can be a great topic – just talk about it with passion,” says Lowndes. Address the rider by name to make it more personal, then tell a funny story (“The snow was so deep this morning, my cat sunk in all the way up to his tail”) or make a positive remark (“I finally get to try out my new rain boots!”). At the very least, it will be a welcome change from the usual bad-weather complaints.

Sticky situation: You arrive at a party and find that you don’t know a single person in the room.

Real Simple solution: Head to the bar or the buffet first, since “there are bound to be other guests congregating nearby to whom you can introduce yourself,” says Donnelly. Or stand near the entrance of the room so that guests pass you on their way in. Approach other people who are standing alone, who will probably be glad to see you, or introduce yourself to the host and enlist her help by saying, “I’ve scanned the room and don’t recognize anyone right away. Is there someone you especially think I should meet?”