Where did the word gaffe come from?
“blunder,” 1909, perhaps from French gaffe “clumsy remark,” originally “boat hook” (15c.), from Old Provençal gafar “to seize,” probably from a Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *gaf-, which is perhaps from PIE root *kap- “to grasp.” Sense connection between the hook and the blunder is obscure; the gaff was used to …
What is a gaffe mean?
Definition of gaffe 1 : a social or diplomatic blunder committed an embarrassing gaffe when he mispronounced her name. 2 : a noticeable mistake Kwan did not fall today, as she had in Friday’s short program, a gaffe that left her in fourth place.— Christopher Clarey.
Is gaffe in English word?
Meaning of gaffe in English. a remark or action that is a social mistake and not considered polite: I made a real gaffe – I called his new wife “Judy”, which is the name of his ex-wife.
What does gaff mean in British slang?
/ (ɡæf) / noun British slang, archaic. a person’s home, esp a flat. Also called: penny-gaff a cheap or low-class place of entertainment, esp a cheap theatre or music hall in Victorian England.
How do you use gaffe in a sentence?
Gaffe in a Sentence ?
- Because of the quarterback’s gaffe, our team lost the big game.
- Clarice made a social gaffe when she wore jeans to a formal event.
- After the actress tripped over her dress, she realized millions of people had seen her gaffe.
What is an example of a gaffe?
The definition of a gaffe is something that you say that causes you to feel embarrassed, such as a social blunder or a faux pas. When you say something that is socially improper, this is an example of a gaffe.
What is the plural for gaffe?
Word forms: plural gaffes. 1. countable noun. A gaffe is a stupid or careless mistake, for example when you say or do something that offends or upsets people.
Is gaffe French?
Usage notes: The informal French expression fais gaffe is very minimal, as the negation is only implied. * Une gaffe is a blunder or mistake, so literally fais gaffe means “make [a] mistake” – indeed, if you use the expression faire une gaffe in anything other than the imperative, it means “to make a mistake.”
What does gaff mean in Scottish?
Gaff (Gah-f) A gaff is relatively new as the dictionary of Scottish words go. It means a house party thrown by a kid when their parents are out.
What does the name gaffe mean?
Definition of gaffe. 1 : a social or diplomatic blunder committed an embarrassing gaffe when he mispronounced her name. 2 : a noticeable mistake Kwan did not fall today, as she had in Friday’s short program, a gaffe that left her in fourth place.- Christopher Clarey.
What is the plural of gaffe?
gaffe (plural gaffes) A foolish and embarrassing error, especially one made in public. Synonyms: blooper, blunder, mistake, error, slip, slip-up; see also Thesaurus: error; Translations
What does gaffe mean in French?
Gaffe is the French for “blunder”. It is a homonym for the French gaffe, boat hook, but of course the meaning here is blunder.
What is the opposite of gaffe?
proprieties. Antonyms for gaffe. amenity, attention, civility, courtesy, formality, gesture, pleasantry.