foot-in-mouth
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of foot-in-mouth
First recorded in 1965–70; from idiomatic phrase put one's foot in one's mouth
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A series of foot-in-mouth appearances early in the administration shook Harris’ confidence, which led to further missteps, which threw her further off keel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2024
Gaffes helped derail his previous presidential campaigns, in 1988 and 2008, and his chronic foot-in-mouth condition flared up again this week.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 21, 2019
Had The Office been a conventional sitcom, it wouldn’t have lingered so long on David Brent’s foot-in-mouth moments, or Tim’s fluffed passes at Dawn.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 12, 2018
She had a difficult time disproving attacks on her record in public office and a real foot-in-mouth moment during a discussion about police endorsements.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2016
His foot-in-mouth performance then culminated in the poorly executed mea culpa, “I’m sorry that the joke which was taken out of context and attracted so much attention.”
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2014
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
