Put your foot in your mouth不是真的要你把腳放到嘴裡

John一早碰到外國同事，順口關心昨天和客戶的會議進行如何，外國同事說：“It didn't go well. I really put my foot in my mouth.”John嚇了一大跳，誰會開會的時候這樣啊？

原來put one's foot in his mouth特別指一個人說錯話造成尷尬場面、或引起不快，也可以說”I really put my mouth in it.”

英文裡還有這些說法，可以形容社交中的不同角色與狀況：

• emollient

這個字是指使皮膚柔軟的潤膚劑，在中文裡也是很常用的比喻。

As a social emollient, he succeeded in resolving the conflicts between the two companies and won the contract for his boss. （作為潤滑劑，他成功解開兩家公司的矛盾並為他的老闆贏得了這次的合約。）

• turn/go sour

本來用來形容牛奶在常溫下放久了就會變酸，也可以表示一段關係變糟了。

After he got caught in a lie, their friendship went sour.

（自從他被抓包說謊，他們的友情就惡化了。）

• throw sth in(to) one’s face

除了真的拿東西朝人的臉砸，另一意思是把問題或批評擺在對方面前，要他面對。

Jerry caused this mess. I'll throw the whole problem into his face and tell him to fix it. (Jerry搞得一團糟，我要把問題攤出來要他解決。)

• take issue with sb.

不同意某人的觀點或言行的時候，我們就可以這樣說來正式表達對某人的異議。

The legislator took issue with the mayor over his new transportation policies. （這位立法委員批評市長提出的交通新政。）

• take sth in one's stride

從容面對問題。Stride是步伐，這句話也就是照著自己的步伐不受影響的意思。

A politician would better learn to take criticism in his or her stride. （一位政治家最好學會對他人的批評處之泰然。）

• Put one at his ease

意思是讓人安心、放下心。“Sally's sense of humor put him at his ease.”（莎莉的幽默感讓他放下了心。）

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