Faux Pas That You Remember

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Most people have a faux pas or two that sticks in their mind. This is one of mine.
Making polite conversation with an unknown but very pleasant grey haired man at a social gathering.
Me: Do you have any grandchildren?
Him: I'm a Roman Catholic Priest.

[Gemini]

LOL, BL, you weren't to know
I'm sure I have examples, I will give it some thought!

[Nanto2girls]

I'm sure there are some,will have to try and recall them.

[Oma]

Oh yes one I can remember well was standing talking to my next door neighbour who was the local mad cat woman(12 cats) and thinking her windows are filthy but saying it out loud to her then adding god the smell of your cats is rank when I realised I had said it out loud I wanted the ground to open and swallow me up , Hubby says I speak before my brain engages 😮

[Skye]

Most people have a faux pas or two that sticks in their mind. This is one of mine.
Making polite conversation with an unknown but very pleasant grey haired man at a social gathering.
Me: Do you have any grandchildren?
Him: I'm a Roman Catholic Priest.

Did he reply: "Not that I'm aware of...."

[Shemadee]

We were discussing names at a small family gathering and I commented on my middle name saying it was dull and unimaginitive - just as I remembered my stepsister name is Mary. Apologies to any other Marys who read this!

My older brother was asked what his wife was like and he replied "She is fat, but not as fat as you."

[Clover]

My DD is Mary. I love the name. Good job we're all different.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

Oh yes I did the name thing once too. A friend and I were talking about names of adults and how odd they would have seemed as babies. I said I couldn't imagine a tiny baby called Gladys and she just gave me a strange look and made no comment. I realised later that the person standing directly behind me and clearly in earshot was called Gladys. I do not have the quietest of voices either

[Oma]

BL this has always been a source of amusement in our family my sister is called Gladys we have all laughed at the thought of my parents calling to a toddler , GLADYS COME HEAR , I mean can you imagine it 😁 she gets Glad now and I can't imagine her with any other name but 70 yrs ago it mustn't have seemed so bad 😊

[Gemini]

Mary is a beautiful name Clover, and yes names are very much a matter of taste.

My aunties name is Gladys, she is 86, it was probably trendy then

[Gemini]

On the subject of names and faux pas.
This wasn't me but my daughter embarrassing me! She was about 10 at the time and we were at her friends house. DD announced in front of friend and her mum that I HATED the name Gail, which was her friends middle name. I don't in fact hate it, but it is a possible abbreviation of DDs name, and one I would never choose. You can imagine me backpedalling, ' No of course I don't hate it darling, its a nice name'

[Daisy]

I love this thread. And where on earth do I start? !!!

In my first job, aged 17. I had to go and deliver something to someone in another office. His name was Donald X. (A funny surname which seemed even funnier attached to Donald)). My immediate boss looked at me icily and said 'My name is Donald'!!!


Two jobs later …. I waltzed into my boss's office (by this time I was a Secretary!) which reeked of cigars. I flung all the windows open saying 'I didn't know Mr M (another director of the company) smoked cigars'. The reply : 'He doesn't, Daisy, I do!'


First Christmas family gathering with my intended, an aunt approached me and started chatting. I looked at her apologetically, saying 'I'm sorry, I don't speak Welsh'. She was speaking English!!!!

[ZIZI]

Years ago when we were organising and running the local carnival the new police commissioner came to our shop to discuss the street closure and policing arrangements. I spoke to him for about twenty five minutes always politely calling him Mr Smallpiece. He was in fact very, very tall, at least six foot six tall with a rugby player stature if you know what I mean. As he left the shop he turned and said "Oh by the way Mrs B*****, my name is Charles Makepiece". He tipped his very impressive hat and left. I am not saying a word.......

[Bizzy Lizzy]

When I started my first job and was trying to be very grown up I was introduced to the office manager Mr Ballcock. I thought keep a straight face and don't let anyone know that you find this amusing. So I had a very civilised conversation making sure I used him name from time to time and felt very proud of myself, until, at the end, he said, "My name is Mr. Baldock by the way." I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me at that point!

[Nana]

This thread is making me smile. When my DD1 started Nursery I congratulated a mum, ( thought I'd break the ice & be friendly) on being pregnant. She wasn't too pleased & replied, 'I'm obese, not pregnant!' Oops.

Another was whilst I was waiting with mum at the Dr's which has a small, very public waiting area. Patients had to cross in front of us to tell receptionist they'd arrived. One large lady came in & mum said 'Oh, she's a big lass'. I'm used to her so just smiled at her. Later an even larger lady came in....yep, you guessed, 'Ha, she's even bigger'. I pretended I didn't hear. By this time I was praying for a smaller sized person. No such luck. Mum was in fits laughing, ' Ha ha. If they get any bigger they'll have to open both doors'. I know I shouldn't but by this time I couldn't hold myself together. Well you can't help but laugh along with her. The surrounding people just avoided eye contact. 😂