gaffe

gaffe
[[t]gæ̱f[/t]]
gaffes
1) N-COUNT A gaffe is a stupid or careless mistake, for example when you say or do something that offends or upsets people.

He made an embarrassing gaffe at the convention last weekend.

...social gaffes committed by high-ranking individuals.

Syn:
2) PHRASE: V inflects If you blow the gaffe or blow the gaff, you tell someone something that other people wanted you to keep secret. [BRIT, INFORMAL]
Syn:
let slip

English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • gaffe — gaffe …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • gaffe — 1. (ga f ) s. f. Longue perche à l extrémité de laquelle est fixée une pointe de fer garnie latéralement d un crochet. La gaffe sert à conduire le bateau, à sonder l eau, etc. •   Le baron descendit dans la barque.... saisit à défaut de rames une …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • gaffe — blunder, 1909, perhaps from Fr. gaffe clumsy remark, originally boat hook, from M.Fr. gaffe (15c.), from O.Prov. gaf, probably from W.Goth. *gafa hook, from P.Gmc. *gafa. Sense connection is obscure; the gaff was used to land big fish. Or it may… …   Etymology dictionary

  • gaffe — (g[a^]f), n. A socially awkward or tactless act. Syn: faux pas, solecism, slip, gaucherie. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gaffé — gaffé, ée (ga fé, fée) part. passé de gaffer. Un gros poisson gaffé …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • gaffe — [gæf] n [Date: 1900 2000; : French; Origin: GAFF] an embarrassing mistake made in a social situation or in public = ↑faux pas ▪ The consul s comments were a major diplomatic gaffe …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • gaffe — /fr. ɡaf/ [fr., da gaffe «gancio»] s. f. inv. abbaglio, cantonata, errore, granchio, sproposito, topica …   Sinonimi e Contrari. Terza edizione

  • gaffe — /gaf/ s.f., fr. [der. di gaffer commettere un indelicatezza ], in ital. invar. [azione o espressione inopportuna, che crea imbarazzo negli altri: fare, commettere una g. ] ▶◀ (fam.) figuraccia, sproposito, (fam.) topica. ↑ errore, sbaglio …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • gaffe — [ gæf ] noun count an embarrassing mistake that you make in public, especially one that offends or upsets someone: BLUNDER, FAUX PAS …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • gaffe — [n] mistake, goof blooper*, blunder, boner*, boo boo*, faux pas*, howler*, impropriety, indecorum, indiscretion, putting foot in mouth*, slip*, solecism; concepts 101,230 Ant. correction …   New thesaurus

  • gaffe — (pronunciamos gaf o gafe gaf o gafe ) sustantivo femenino 1. Origen: Uruguay. Error, equivocación por torpeza o descuido …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

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