put one's foot in it
Say something awkward
To put one's foot in it is to say or do something tactless or embarrassing, usually by accident: I really put my foot in it when I asked about her husband—I didn't know they'd divorced.
The idiom suggests stepping into something unpleasant, like mud or worse.
Also appears as put one's foot in one's mouth.
- miscommunicationFailed exchange of meaning
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- gaffeClumsy social error
- verbal gaffeEmbarrassing spoken mistake
misunderstanding · chagrin · mortification · misstep · tactlessness · speak out of turn · slip-up · regret · faux pas · indiscretion · crossed the line · clanger · misphrasing · awkward silence · awkwardness · oversharing · shame · tone-deafness
put one's foot in itread the room
Perceive social atmosphere accurately
finesse · keep one's mouth shut · hold one's tongue · think before speaking · social grace
put one's foot in ithandle with kid gloves
Treat very carefully
read the room · tread carefully · finesse · keep one's counsel · bite one's tongue
puts, putting, putter, ones, foot, footwear, footed, footer, footing