Freudian slip
Unconscious verbal betrayal
A Freudian slip is an unintentional error in speech or action thought to reveal an unconscious belief, desire, or feeling.
Named for psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who theorized that such mistakes expose hidden thoughts: She meant to say "I'm glad you're here" but said "I'm mad you're here".
Whether such slips truly reveal the unconscious or are simply verbal stumbles remains debated, but the term persists as shorthand for any revealing mistake.
Not awake or aware
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
- idUnconscious instinctual drives
- egoOne's self-image
- superegoMind's moral overseer
defense mechanisms · psychodynamics · transference · free association · libido · Oedipus complex · dream interpretation · psychosexual
Express oneself incorrectly
- gaffeClumsy social error
- flubClumsy error
- misspeakingErring in speech
- malapropismSound-alike word confusion
tongue-tied · stumble · mix-up · wrong word · accidental · unintentional · embarrassing · awkward moment
Unspoken message beneath surface
- true feelingsAuthentic internal emotional state
- inner truthOne's genuine beliefs
- unmaskingRevealing what's hidden
- exposureState of being unprotected
disclosure · admission · confession · unveiling · discovery · insight · realization · tell
Oblique disparaging remark
- double entendrePhrase with hidden lewdness
- suggestiveHinting at impropriety
- libidoInnate erotic drive
- desireIntense wanting
erotic · phallic · inappropriate · embarrassment · blushing · risqué · provocative · titillating
unconscious
Not awake or aware
- repressionUnconscious blocking of thoughts
- idUnconscious instinctual drives
- egoOne's self-image
superego · defense mechanisms · psychodynamics · transference · free association · libido · Oedipus complex · dream interpretation · psychosexual · neurosis
misspeak
Express oneself incorrectly
- gaffeClumsy social error
- flubClumsy error
- misspeakingErring in speech
malapropism · tongue-tied · stumble · mix-up · wrong word · accidental · unintentional · embarrassing · awkward moment · blooper
hidden meaning
Unspoken message beneath surface
- true feelingsAuthentic internal emotional state
- inner truthOne's genuine beliefs
- unmaskingRevealing what's hidden
exposure · disclosure · admission · confession · unveiling · discovery · insight · realization · tell · giveaway
innuendo
Oblique disparaging remark
- double entendrePhrase with hidden lewdness
- suggestiveHinting at impropriety
- libidoInnate erotic drive
desire · erotic · phallic · inappropriate · embarrassment · blushing · risqué · provocative · titillating
- EponymsDarwinian, Alzheimer's disease, cardigan, Parkinson's disease, Machiavellian
- slipslandslip, pay stub
- psychoanalysisid, ego, unconscious, superego, repression
- Freudian slipsspeech error
- speech errorsmispronunciation, malapropism, malapropisms, spoonerism, spoonerisms
- Unconsciousid, ego, superego, repression, dreams
Freudian slipmeasured speech
Carefully controlled verbal expression
measured response · diplomatic language · poker face · self-censorship · stonewalling
Freudian slipbald-faced lie
Shameless, obvious untruth
cover story · white lie · polite fiction · plausible deniability · spin