verbal faux pas
Foot in mouth
A verbal faux pas is a socially awkward or embarrassing thing to say—mentioning someone's divorce to their new partner, mispronouncing a colleague's name in a toast, or accidentally revealing a secret.
The French phrase literally means "false step," suggesting a stumble in conversation: Asking about her pregnancy was a verbal faux pas—she wasn't pregnant.
- gaffeClumsy social error
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- slipMinor error or misstep
- slip of the tongueUnintended verbal error
- misspeakExpress oneself incorrectly
Freudian slip · awkward · cringe · embarrassing · foot-in-mouth · foot in mouth · tactless · indiscreet · stumble · blooper · oops · regret · apology · silence · wince · awkward silence · fumble · inappropriate
verbal faux paseloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
verbal dexterity · silver tongue · articulateness · gift of gab · smooth talking
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