faux pas

An embarrassing blunder or breach of proper etiquette, often made in front of other people. Daria didn't realize she had made such a faux pas when she went to use her salad fork to eat the main course. I really made a faux pas when I asked Julia about her surprise party—which hadn't happened yet. I made a serious faux pas on our first date by ordering veal, only realizing later that he's a staunch animal rights advocate.

n'est-ce pas

cliché From French, literally, "Is it not?," used in English as a tag question to emphasize the veracity of one's previous statement. Of course, when doing such important work as ours, it's critical that we be given ample time off in order to recuperate, n'est-ce pas? It's tough these days, n'est-ce pas, old friend?

pas devant les enfants

From French, literally "not in front of the children," used in English to indicate the act or notion of not doing or saying something taboo or shocking within sight or hearing of children (or, more broadly, anyone who may be offended by it). Often used humorously, sarcastically, or sardonically. We've made a point of avoiding the pas devant les enfants in our house. If we have something to say, then we say it, whether the kids are around us or not. Users are up in arms over what they perceive to be the online paper's "pas devant les enfants" censorship of their comments.

(make/commit) a ˌfaux ˈpas

(from French) an action or a remark that causes embarrassment because it is not socially correct: I immediately made a faux pas when I forgot to take my shoes off before I went into the house. ♢ They were kind enough to overlook my faux pas and continued as if nothing had happened.

The meaning of the French expression is ‘wrong step’.