put one's foot in one's mouth
Speak then regret
To put one's foot in one's mouth is to say something embarrassing, tactless, or inappropriate—often revealing information better left unsaid or making an awkward situation worse.
The image is of literally stuffing your foot into your mouth, rendering you unable to speak sensibly.
I really put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her husband—they'd just divorced.
- slip of the tongueUnintended verbal error
- Freudian slipUnconsciously revealing misstatement
- blushFacial reddening from emotion
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
malapropism · tactlessness · cringe · awkward silence · regret · eat one's words · misspeak · verbal gaffe · gaffe · foot-in-mouth · mortification · faux pas · stammer · shame · clarification · indiscretion · embarrassment · damage control
put one's foot in one's mouthread the room
Perceive social atmosphere accurately
smooth talker · charmer · social butterfly · wordsmith · eloquent
putting, footwear, footed, footer, footing, footstep, footprint, mouths, mouthed