French Conversation · Level 147
30 words
French word
dérapage
Pronunciation
IPA/deʁapaʒ/
Meaning
- masculine noungaffe
Example
Son dérapage a surpris tout le monde.
His gaffe surprised everyone.
More examples
Le politicien a présenté des excuses après son dérapage.
The politician apologized after his verbal slip.
Core concept
A spoken remark suddenly skids beyond the accepted boundary.
Common phrases
un dérapage verbal
a verbal slip
avoir un dérapage
make a verbal slip
un dérapage politique
a political slip
Similar words
gaffe: A careless remark or action that causes offense or amusement.
lapsus: A slip of the tongue that expresses something unintended.
Definition in French
Fait de tenir des propos qui dépassent une limite acceptée, souvent involontaires, et qui surprennent ou choquent.
Word origin
Dérapage is formed from the verb déraper with the noun suffix -age, extending the original sense of wheels slipping on a surface to speech or conduct going off course.
Usage tips
- Dérapage is masculine, so the phrase is un dérapage.