How do you say “Put your foot in your mouth” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is meter la pata, which literally means “to put in the paw”. English speakers use put your foot in your mouth to mean to accidentally say something that embarrasses you or upsets someone else. It covers practical mistakes too, not only things you say. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
meter la pata
/meˈteɾ la ˈpata/
- Literal meaning
- “to put in the paw”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
95 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
“Meter la pata” covers an awkward remark or another kind of mistake. Add “al decir…” or describe the comment when you need to make the verbal mistake clear.
“Cometer una indiscreción” is more formal and particularly useful for revealing private information. It isn't the best choice for every badly timed joke.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in Spanish?
decir algo inoportuno
Literally: “to say something ill-timed”
More precise when the mistake is specifically a remark.
cometer una indiscreción
Literally: “to commit an indiscretion”
Useful when someone reveals private information or speaks without discretion.
In context
English
I put my foot in my mouth by asking about the job she'd just lost.
Spanish
Metí la pata al preguntarle por el trabajo que acababa de perder.
English
He put his foot in his mouth by mentioning the surprise party.
Spanish
Metió la pata al mencionar la fiesta sorpresa.
Related expressions
- What “Put your foot in your mouth” means in English
- Spill the beans, To give away a secret.
Last updated 2026-09-16