faux pas
Etiquette breach committed
A faux pas is a social blunder—an embarrassing breach of etiquette or accepted behavior: Wearing white to someone else's wedding is a faux pas.
The term comes from French, literally meaning "false step." It implies a misstep in manners rather than a serious offense: I committed a faux pas by bringing up her ex at dinner.
Breaking of agreement
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- solecismGrammatical or social blunder
- indecorumViolation of accepted standards
- discourtesyRude or impolite behavior
rudeness · tactlessness · indelicacy · disrespect · incivility · impoliteness · offense · slight
Clumsy social error
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slipMinor error or misstep
- mistakeWrong action or decision
- errorFault in communication
blooper · clanger · howler · flub · goof · bungle · fumble · snafu
Self-conscious unease
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
cringe · mortification · red-faced · blush · disgrace · stigma · ostracism · alienation
Cultural or social prohibition
- forbiddenNot allowed
- verbotenProhibited by authority
- off-limitsProhibited from access
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
unacceptable · insensitivity · misunderstanding · ignorance · cluelessness · tone-deaf · offensive · disrespectful
breach
Breaking of agreement
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- solecismGrammatical or social blunder
- indecorumViolation of accepted standards
discourtesy · rudeness · tactlessness · indelicacy · disrespect · incivility · impoliteness · offense · slight · insult
gaffe
Clumsy social error
error · blooper · clanger · howler · flub · goof · bungle · fumble · snafu · miscue
embarrassment
Self-conscious unease
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- shamePainful awareness of failure
discomfort · cringe · mortification · red-faced · blush · disgrace · stigma · ostracism · alienation · exclusion
taboo
Cultural or social prohibition
- forbiddenNot allowed
- verbotenProhibited by authority
- off-limitsProhibited from access
inappropriate · unacceptable · insensitivity · misunderstanding · ignorance · cluelessness · tone-deaf · offensive · disrespectful · presumptuous
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- French Wordsbaguette, femme, croissant, enfant, champagne
- mishapsmishap, accident, mistake, blunder, error
- normsnorm, norms, standard, social norms, rule
- Romance Loanwordsamor, amour, au revoir, bonjour, ciao
- social blundersgaffe, misstep, blooper, flub, goof
faux pasproper etiquette
propriety · good manners · decorum · good form · social grace
faux passavoir-faire
Instinctive social competence
social grace · tact · finesse · diplomacy · adroitness