foot in her mouth

Definitions

• to say something embarrassing or tactless
  To describe someone who has said something inappropriate or embarrassing without meaning to

• to make a mistake while speaking
  To describe someone who has said something that they regret or that causes them trouble

Examples of foot in her mouth

• Lauren accidentally blurted out that she thought the new boss's outfit looked funny, causing everyone in the meeting to stare at her in disbelief.

  The expression "foot in her mouth" is used to describe a situation where someone says something embarrassingly awkward, unpleasant, or tactless, as if they have put their foot in their mouth. Lauren's comment about her boss's outfit was a clear example of this idiom in action. Her words were careless, and it created an uncomfortable atmosphere in the meeting. She had put her foot in her mouth, and now she had to deal with the repercussions.

• Rachel's attempt to compliment her friend's new haircut ended with her saying, "Wow, your hair looks just like a bowl of spaghetti!"

  In this instance, Rachel's use of the expression "bowl of spaghetti" instead of "mess" or "disarray" when describing her friend's hair was an example of "foot in her mouth." Rachel's friend must have felt shocked and offended by Rachel's comparison, as it was an unflattering comment that was unnecessary and uncalled for. Rachel's fumblings with language had once again left her with a foot in her mouth, and her friend was undoubtedly resentful.

• During a job interview, John boasted about his passion for golf and how it had helped him develop crucial leadership and team-building skills.

  Although John's love for golf might have been a genuine passion, it was not appropriate to bring it up in a professional setting. He had put his foot in his mouth by oversharing and making the interviewer question his judgment and focus on his job-related abilities. John found himself in a situation where he realized too late that he had said too much, and his foot was in his mouth.

• At a casual gathering, Sarah's husband failed to notice a few guests had left and blurted out, "Why did all these people leave? Did I offend someone?"

  In this case, Sarah's husband put his foot in his mouth by assuming there was a reason why some people had left the gathering. His statement seemed accusatory, and it created an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere. Sarah's husband's comment revealed that he was uncertain and insecure, which was not a favorable impression for the remaining guests. Sarah's husband realized that his words had been uncalled for, and he quickly tried to make amends and explain that he wasn't implying that anyone was offended. Sarah's husband had once again put his foot in his mouth, and it required some damage control to salvage the situation.

Conclusion

The idiom "foot in her mouth" is used to describe a situation where someone has said something embarrassing or tactless, often by mistake. It can also be used to describe a situation where someone has made a mistake while speaking, causing trouble or regret. Overall, the idiom is used to highlight the act of saying something inappropriate or embarrassing.

Origin of "foot in her mouth"

The origin of the idiom "foot in her mouth" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated from the literal act of putting one's foot in their mouth, which is physically impossible and would be an embarrassing mistake if attempted. The idiom likely evolved from this literal concept to describe the act of saying something embarrassing or tactless. Its use in everyday language can be traced back to the 19th century, where it was used to describe social blunders and verbal mistakes. Over time, it has become a common idiom in English to describe the act of saying something embarrassing or making a verbal mistake.