social faux pas
Embarrassing etiquette violation
A social faux pas is an embarrassing breach of etiquette or accepted behavior—saying or doing something inappropriate in a social setting.
The French phrase literally means "false step," suggesting a misstep in navigating unwritten rules: Asking about her divorce at dinner was a major social faux pas.
The modifier "social" is often redundant, since faux pas already implies social context.
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- gaffeClumsy social error
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- awkward silenceUncomfortable lull in conversation
cringe · taboo · crossed a line · etiquette · misstep · slip-up · tactless · off-color joke · inappropriate · making a scene · offense · breach · stumble · mortifying · egg on face · clumsy · insult · rude
- awkward momentsoops, cringe, embarrassment, yikes, awkward
- comedy elementspunchline, wit, gag, satire, irony
- unacceptableunacceptable, inappropriate, improper, wrong, forbidden
- Jane Austen themespride, vanity, manners, courtship, matchmaking
- Shakespeare comedymistaken identity, comic relief, dramatic irony, Falstaff, Malvolio
social faux pasproper etiquette
good manners · social grace · propriety · decorum · savoir-faire
social, faux, socialize, socialization, socialized, socializing, society, societies, societal