GermanIns Fettnäpfchen treten
Meaning: To commit an embarrassing social blunder.
Literally: To step into the little grease pot
Example: “Ich bin ins Fettnäpfchen getreten und fragte nach ihrem Mann; sie sind geschieden.” — I put my foot in it by asking about her husband; they're divorced.
English equivalent: To put one's foot in it
Origin: Farmhouses once kept a small pot of grease (Fettnapf) near the door or the stove for greasing boots, and anyone who stepped in it or knocked it over earned the housewife's anger for the mess. Stepping into the grease pot came to mean making a clumsy social blunder. Another explanation points to the pot set under a ham hanging by the stove to catch its dripping fat, but that account is unsourced.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: Meter la pata Literally: To put the paw in
French: Mettre les pieds dans le plat Literally: To put one's feet in the dish
Portuguese: meter os pés pelas mãos Literally: To put the feet through the hands
Danish: At træde i spinaten Literally: To step in the spinach
English: put one's foot in it
More German idioms
- Eulen nach Athen tragen To do something utterly pointless.
- Hummeln im Hintern haben To be unable to sit still.
- Das ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei It's not ideal; not quite good enough.
- Alles in Butter Everything is fine and under control.
- Aus dem Häuschen sein To be beside yourself with excitement.
- Jemandem auf den Keks gehen To get on someone's nerves.
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- Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen Once you have started something, you have to see it through.
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- Aller Anfang ist schwer Starting something new is always the hardest part.
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