PhrasesHub

faux pas

    Definitions

      • social blunder
        Describing an embarrassing or tactless mistake or error in social behavior or manners

      • mistake or error
        Referring to any kind of mistake or error, particularly in a social context

    Examples of faux pas

    • Emma accidentally wore white after Labor Day, which is considered a faux pas in fashion.

      "Faux pas" translates to "false step" in French and refers to a social blunder or mistake. In fashion, it's generally considered a faux pas to wear white clothing after Labor Day in the fall, as it's associated with summer and beachwear. Emma's mistake of wearing white after Labor Day is an example of this fashion faux pas.

    • Tommy accidentally invited his boss to his child's birthday party on a workday instead of a weekend, which was a major faux pas.

      In this example, a faux pas refers to a social blunder or mistake that's committed unintentionally. Tommy's boss is likely used to attending events on weekends, and Tommy's invitation on a workday may cause scheduling conflicts or other issues. Tommy's mistake of inviting his boss to his child's birthday party on a workday is a major faux pas that may affect his professional reputation.

    • Rachel tried to impress her coworkers by ordering a fancy French dish at a client lunch, but she accidentally chose the wrong dish and it ended up being a huge faux pas.

      In this example, a faux pas refers to a social blunder or mistake that's committed deliberately but has negative consequences. Rachel attempted to impress her coworkers by ordering a fancy French dish, but she mistakenly chose a dish that she didn't understand the ingredients or the flavor profile of. As a result, the dish turned out badly and caused embarrassment for Rachel and her team. Rachel's mistake of choosing the wrong French dish is an example of a faux pas in this context.

    • Carlos was at a fancy gala and accidentally spilled a drink on a prominent politician's dress, creating a huge faux pas.

      In this example, a faux pas refers to a social blunder or mistake that's committed unintentionally and creates an awkward or embarrassing situation. Carlos' mistaken spill of a drink on a prominent politician's dress is an example of a faux pas in this situation. The dress may be ruined, and the incident could lead to negative media attention for the politician and Carlos. It's a situation that could have been avoided with more careful attention to detail.

    • During the formal dinner party, Sarah accidentally burped loudly, committing a major faux pas and causing everyone at the table to stare at her in exasperation.

      The idiom "faux pas" refers to a social blunder or mistake. Sarah's loud burp in a formal setting was a significant faux pas, as it demonstrated poor etiquette and embarrassed her fellow diners.

    • When trying to impress his boss, David thought it would be a good idea to send a hilarious meme to her work email. Little did he know, this was a serious faux pas as his boss found the meme in poor taste and unprofessional.

      Here, David's attempt to lighten the mood through sharing a meme was a faux pas in a professional setting. Bosses expect their employees to maintain a level of professionalism and avoid sending humorous messages to their email, as it can be interpreted as unprofessional and unproductive.

    • While traveling in a foreign country, Maria ordered a dish she didn't recognize from the menu, thinking it would be a unique experience. However, she quickly realized her mistake when she saw her dining companion's horrified expression. Turns out, the dish she ordered was considered a taboo food in that culture, resulting in a major faux pas.

      Here, Maria's lack of cultural sensitivity resulted in a faux pas. She should have been more careful while ordering and done research about the local customs beforehand to avoid any embarrassment.

    • During a charity event, John introduced himself to a wealthy donor as the head of the organization, when in fact, he was just a volunteer. His false claim was a serious faux pas, as it led to a loss of trust and reputation for the whole charity.

      Here, John's attempt to impress the donor resulted in a major faux pas. Publicly claiming a position that one does not hold is not only dishonest but also harms the organization's credibility, as it raises doubts about the authenticity and intentions of the charity's officials.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "faux pas" is used to describe a social blunder or mistake in manners or behavior. It can also be used more broadly to refer to any kind of mistake or error, but it is most commonly associated with social situations. It is often used to highlight an embarrassing or tactless error in social behavior.

    Origin of "faux pas"

    The term "faux pas" comes from the French language, where it directly translates to "false step." It is believed to have originated in the 1670s and was initially used in the context of dance, referring to a misstep or false move. Over time, the term evolved to encompass any kind of social blunder or mistake in manners. The use of "faux pas" in English language dates back to the early 19th century, and it has since become a widely used idiom in English-speaking countries to describe social mistakes or errors. Examples of "faux pas" can include saying something inappropriate at a formal event or unintentionally offending someone with a thoughtless comment.