
An embarrassing or tactless blunder ( especially used in social situations and contexts ) a misstep. An example of a faux pas is burping in public.

Sign-up for my writing and editing email newsletter for more writing tips like this. The definition of a faux pas is a behavioral gaffe or some type of social mistake that you make. It is a communication faux pas to spell this phrase in any other way than this. There’s a story here, and I want to hear it.Īnd if there’s not a story, just make sure you spell it right. And if he’s not your father, who is he? I’m intrigued. So if you’re talking about a “faux pa,” it sounds as if you’re talking about a fake father. Something might be “faux fur,” “faux leather,” or “faux meat,” meaning that it is an imitation of the real thing. Therefore, saying some made a faux pas is equivalent. Faux pas is most commonly used to talk about an embarrassing mistake made in a social situation. As a whole, the phrase refers to a false step or misstep. However, in the phrase faux pas, it means false. “Faux” comes up in other instances, of course. Over the years, faux has gained the meaning fake, as in faux fur. In French, faux pas translates to a false step. It’s not “fo pah” or “faux pa.” The correct form of this expression is “faux pas” But what is a faux pas?Ī faux pas is a slip in etiquette or a social blunder (in a conversation or in an action) that causes offense embarrassment. a socially awkward or tactless act / A false step / an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation., Usage, She has been falsly charged of. Phonetic spelling never works in such instances. Want to learn more Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford.

Remember, the phrase you’re looking for seeped into English from French. If you’re writing about a “faux pa,” I’m tempted to ask, who’s you’re daddy? Though, maybe I should back up…
