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  1. faux pas love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A social blunder.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. A false step; a slip; a mistake; especially, a breach of good manners; a lapse from chastity, or any act that compromises one's reputation.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A blunder (especially used in social contexts); a misstep.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. A false step; a mistake or wrong measure a slip or misstep in social etiquette; a blunder in conduct or manners that causes embarassment.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a socially awkward or tactless act

Etymologies

  1. From the French phrase faux pas, of the same meaning; composed of faux, “false, wrong”, and pas, “step”. (Wiktionary)
  2. French : faux, false + pas, step. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “Unfortunately, children with learning problems are often unaware of these peer-imposed norms and, as a result, continually make social faux pas that create and foster a negative reputation.”

    Simon & Schuster: It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend

  • “With the faux pas of ex-dating, I had definitely hit the bottom of the barrel.”

    Simon & Schuster: Same Sex in the City

  • ““But I take it our two guides have set your mind at ease that we will not commit some glaring faux pas and do not actually require nursemaids to help us survive our time here,” Holmes said evenly, sounding more amused than perturbed.”

    O Jerusalem

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synonyms (14)

Words with the same meaning

  1. error
  2. boo-boo
  1. mistake
  2. defect
  1. slip
  2. fault
  1. thinko
  2. blunder
  1. Freudian slip
  2. lapse
  1. stumble
  2. blooper
  1. gaffe
  2. fluff

hypernyms (11)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. boo-boo
  2. fuckup
  1. bloomer
  2. foul-up
  1. pratfall
  2. blooper
  1. boner
  2. botch
  1. flub
  2. bungle
  1. blunder

reverse dictionary (10)

Words that contain this word in their definition

  1. break
  2. goof
  1. boob
  2. no-no
  1. clanger
  2. blooper
  1. gaffe
  2. drop the ball
  1. sin
  2. blunder

tags (2)

Free-form, user-generated categorization

  1. french
  1. loanword

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tagging (1)

Words tagged ‘faux pas’

  1. pointing the brie

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Lists

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‘faux pas’ has been looked up 3386 times, loved by 6 people, added to 40 lists, commented on 1 time, and is not a valid Scrabble word.