Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth
Do you know the game Kendama? Kendama is a traditional Japanese game. There are two wooden cups attached to a handle. There is also a string connecting the handle to a ball. The objective of the game is to catch the ball in each cup and on the ends of the handle. It is fairly difficult. I certainly can’t do more than one cup.
One of my coworkers likes to tease our trainees and is a master of practical jokes. He was so confident that the trainees couldn’t complete the Kendama challenge (all cups and handles without making a mistake) that he promised to give them a free period (no class) if they completed it. Most people would not care too much and give up after a few tries. However, two of the trainees were highly motivated and they practiced all weekend. They must have spent longer practicing Kendama than they would save from getting a free period. Well, one of them was successful. My coworker really put his foot in his mouth.
Putting your foot in your mouth is one way to describe saying something that you will regret. In the situation with the Kendama game, my coworker regretted making that challenge. However, this phrase can also be applied to a situation where you say something embarrassing, offensive or inappropriate.
Example: My coworker told them that they could have a free class if they completed the Kendama. He really put his foot in his mouth because one trainee actually did it.
Example: I asked her when she was going to have a baby. She was not pregnant. I really put my foot in my mouth.
There are some synonymous phrases related to putting your foot in your mouth. Some people say stick your foot in your mouth. You may also hear, “She has Foot-in-Mouth Disease.” This is implying that she regularly says inappropriate or embarrassing things. It is sounds like the cattle disease, Hoof and Mouth Disease. Around the time I went to university Hoof and Mouth Disease was a world-wide problem, so I avoid using the phrase, Foot-in-Mouth Disease. I have also read that the British equivalent of this phrase is, put your foot in it. It seems the British phrase came first and is over 150 years old. I have never personally heard this, but perhaps an English friend of mine can confirm or deny this.
Recently my worker made another promise where he almost put his foot in his mouth. He told the trainees that they could hit him the next day if they visited him in the office. The trick was that he was helping me teach a class far away that day. He was not going to be at work. He is my hero 😀 Anyways, that reminded me of the Kendama story, so I wanted to share it today.
Everyone has put their foot in the mouth at one point. I am curious to see if anyone is brave enough to share their story here.
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