gaffe
51
7.7
- noun
- /ɡæf/
:
metedura de pata
- During the meeting, he made a serious gaffe by confusing two important clients.
It was, it was the most mental gaffe like you could ever imagine.
- It was, it was the most mental gaffe like you could ever imagine.
- He makes more gaffes than I can keep up with.
- But it's also hard not to watch the gaffes and, and think that something's going on.
- Like the sandwich because he's always doing gaffes.
- Welcome everybody to the number one place for news, viral hits and weekly gaffes on your host, Ethan Klein.
- Chuck, you know, the guy who had the gaffe earlier today about Donald Trump inciting a you know what?
- So, I mean, I don't know, but if Biden had some sort of gaffe that was that bad, it would be front page everywhere.
Examples
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Should she tell him about herself and avoid a painful gaffe in the future?
Fiction book (1992) -
He makes more gaffes than I can keep up with.
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The gaffe was not the bad part; it was the strategy behind the gaffe that was the problem.
Blog text (4) -
What an awful gaffe that would be!
Fiction book (2001) -
And just last night, Johnson made another gaffe at an MSNBC town hall.
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The President's gaffe-filled summer continued today...
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Not many politicians expose themselves to impromptu questions because the gaffe risk is so high.
Blog text (5) -
If Mr. Biden can avoid making any gaffes, or if Mr. Ryan seems ill-prepared, momentum could shift.
Blog text (4) -
In one infamous gaffe, two hijab-wearing women were prevented from sitting behind the podium at an Obama campaign rally.
Academic text (2013) -
Noah is neglecting to mention that Romney's campaign has been a gaffe-prone political pratfall-a-minute unmitigated disaster thus far.
Blog text (3)
Synonyms
79
1.6
A small mistake made by accident or carelessness
50
3.5
A small mistake that causes embarrassment
49
3.0
A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems
44
5.3
A small wrong action that causes embarrassment or harm to people's trust
20
6.5
A problem that happens because of a big mistake and spoils plans
14
6.1
An embarrassing mistake that happens in public or during a show
13
3.7
A small careless mistake you make by accident
13
8.8
An embarrassing act or remark that upsets people in social situations
9
3.4
A small mistake that is often embarrassing
9
3.5
A small silly mistake that causes embarrassment or laughter
7
3.7
A small mistake you make while speaking, like saying the wrong name
6
7.7
An embarrassing mistake made when someone is careless or nervous
6
8.0
An accidental mistake in speech that shows hidden thoughts or feelings
5
9.9
A serious or embarrassing mistake that causes problems
5
7.7
A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning
4
7.7
A small unintentional mistake when speaking, writing, or performing an action
3
7.6
An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work
1
7.2
An obvious embarrassing mistake that makes people laugh
1
9.9
A mistake in language or a socially awkward action
1
8.7
An embarrassing mistake someone makes in public
Awkward or rude behavior in social situations that makes people feel uncomfortable
A small mistake that causes embarrassment or trouble
A short embarrassing mistake you make
How Embarrassing
Surface Forms
Etymology
Gaffe comes from French gaffe, meaning 'blunder'. One idea links it to the word gaff ('boat hook'), so a helpful image is being 'caught' by a hook and made to look foolish, which is why a gaffe is a social mistake that causes embarrassment.