gaffe – Blog EBE https://englishbookgeorgia.com/blogebg English Book Education Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:38:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://englishbookgeorgia.com/blogebg/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-English-Book-Education-Symbol-02-32x32.png gaffe – Blog EBE https://englishbookgeorgia.com/blogebg 32 32 Interesting Words And Expressions – Faux Pas https://englishbookgeorgia.com/blogebg/interesting-words-and-expressions-faux-pas/ Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:36:19 +0000 http://englishbookgeorgia.com/blogebg/?p=2699 Faux-Pas

What does faux pas mean?

It’s a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.

How do you pronounce it?

\ˈfō-ˌpä, fō-ˈ\

or

[foh pah]

Where does it come from?

The expression faux pas comes from France, where it means “false step”, “misstep” (in a physical as well as a figurative sense). It has been used in English for over 300 years. Synonyms in English include gaffe and (social) blunder.

How do you use it?

Arriving too early would be a serious faux pas.

According to an oft-told story, the queen set a guest at ease about a faux pas by politely imitating it.

 

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