false step

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noun

a stumble.

an unwise or blundering act.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Words nearby false step

false rib, false ribs, false scorpion, false Solomon's-seal, false start, false step, false teeth, false topaz, falsetto, false vampire, false vocal cords

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use false step in a sentence

Especially at a time like this when the cultural reflex is to vilify every false step.
The 2021 Olympics Are an Inspiring, Infuriating Shitshow|Kevin Fallon|July 30, 2021|The Daily Beast
In fact, in many ways the themes raised were sand traps waiting for a false step.
Cartagena Summit’s Other Outrage: Obama’s Indifference to Latin Issues|Mac Margolis|April 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He was black and he has always known that one false step and he was down and out.
Magic|Tina Brown|November 5, 2008|DAILY BEAST
I repented directly the false step was taken, but, like a true Briton, I was too proud to go back.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie

Their genius travels over as many lines as there are lineaments in the figure, and the least false step would deform it.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume IX (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
Every time I made a false step, I had to devise some new “miracle” by way of counterblast.
The Adventures of Louis de Rougemont|Louis de Rougemont
And both he and Godfrey knew that one false step meant a death almost too horrible for words.
Motor Matt's Daring, or, True to His Friends|Stanley R. Matthews
One false step, one blunder, would be fatal, and we have known the other members of the party to make these blunders.
Seeing Things at Night|Heywood Broun

British Dictionary definitions for false step

false step

noun

an unwise action

a stumble; slip

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with false step

false step

A stumble or blunder, as in Making a down payment without securing a mortgage was clearly a false step. This term transfers physical stumbling or tripping to other enterprises. [c. 1700]

false step

Words nearby false step

Words related to false step

How to use false step in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for false step

Other Idioms and Phrases with false step