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Thread: I have put my foot in it

  1. #1
    ratóncolorao is offline Member
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    Default I have put my foot in it

    Hello,

    Is the above expression a synonym for "goof up a certain thing" or "screw it up"?

    Thank you.
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  2. #2
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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: I have put my foot in it

    Quote Originally Posted by ratóncolorao View Post
    Hello,

    Is the above expression a synonym for "goof up a certain thing" or "screw it up"?

    Thank you.
    In some ways. 'Put one's foot in it' is, though informal, acceptable in BrE in all but the most formal speech/writing, in my opinion. Your two expressions are definitely informal.

    I believe it was the Duke of Edinburgh who invented the word 'dentapedology' as a mock-formal term to describe his habit of saying embarrassing things.
    TheParser and ratóncolorao like this.
    Context is always important; labelling is rarely important.


  3. #3
    TheParser is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: I have put my foot in it

    Quote Originally Posted by ratóncolorao View Post
    Hello,

    Is the above expression a synonym for "goof up a certain thing" or "screw it up"?

    Thank you.

    ***** NOT A TEACHER *****


    (1) You have probably heard about this, but just in case that you haven't ...


    (2) A politician in the United States really put his foot in his mouth a few

    days ago.

    (a) He said, "I like to fire people!" [Dismiss people from their jobs.]

    (b) He wanted to say "When people do not do a good job for us, we all should

    have the right to fire them."

    (c) But his political opponents are now saying: Mr. X is so cruel. He enjoys

    firing people for no good reason. Don't vote for cruel Mr. X. Vote for us. We won't

    fire you. We love you.
    ratóncolorao likes this.

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