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“gaffe”
gaff, gaff, gaffe
gaff (GAF) (noun)
A metal hook or spear used by fishermen or butchers to lift and maneuver heavy objects: The angler used his gaff to lift the fish from the net into the hold of the boat.
gaff (GAF) (verb)
To fix or to set up for cheating: The gambler was known to try to gaff in order to deceive when playing cards.
gaffe (GAF) (noun)
Social awkwardness or a diplomatic blunder: Aileen was deeply embarrassed by her spoken gaffe at the garden party.
When Jerome was introduced to Sally, he realized that he had committed an embarrassing gaffe when he didn't pronounce her name correctly.
It would be an unprecedented social gaffe if Emmett were to try to gaff when playing cards; in fact, his opponent might think of using a metal gaff to stop him.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Confusing Words Clarified: Group G; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(page 1)
Word Entries at Get Words:
“gaffe”
1. A clumsy mistake or a breach of etiquette: Fred made a gaffe about Etta's new dress that embarrassed her.
2. A blundering social error; a "faux pas": Trisha realized that she had committed an embarrassing gaffe when she mispronounced the name of the diplomat's wife during the introduction.
3. A blatant mistake or misjudgment: It is a serious gaffe to forget to lock one's house when he or she leaves home.
4. Etymology: the meaning of "blunder" is from about 1909, from French gaffe, "clumsy remark"; originally, "boat hook" from Old French gaffe, which came from Old Provençal gaf.
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2. A blundering social error; a "faux pas": Trisha realized that she had committed an embarrassing gaffe when she mispronounced the name of the diplomat's wife during the introduction.
3. A blatant mistake or misjudgment: It is a serious gaffe to forget to lock one's house when he or she leaves home.
A White House gaffe irritated diplomats who were forced to cool their heels.
Several foreign diplomats were mistakenly denied entry to the White House when they arrived for an annual reception, and though most finally made it in, a few left in anger.
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so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
This entry is located in the following unit:
English Words in Action, Group G
(page 1)
Diplomatic or clumsy social mistakes when saying or doing something that is not acceptable. (2)
This entry is located in the following unit:
Word a Day Revisited Index of Cartoons Illustrating the Meanings of Words
(page 40)