IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishput one's foot in it
Meaning: To say something tactless or embarrassing.
Example: “I really put my foot in it when I asked about her husband; they divorced last year.”
Origin: In print by the early 18th century: Jonathan Swift's Polite Conversation (1738) has "The bishop has put his foot in it." The image is of stepping into something one should have walked around.
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
German: Ins Fettnäpfchen treten Literally: To step into the little grease pot
Danish: At træde i spinaten Literally: To step in the spinach
More English idioms
- talk behind someone's back To say unkind things about someone when they are not present.
- add fuel to the fire To make a bad situation worse.
- be on pins and needles To be very anxious while waiting for something.
- make a killing To make a lot of money quickly.
- worm something out of someone To get information from someone gradually and persistently.
- lie low To stay out of sight and avoid attention.
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