misstep

English

Etymology

From mis- +‎ step.

Noun

misstep (plural missteps)

1. a step that is wrong, a false step

   On a high ledge, a misstep could be fatal.

2. an error or mistake

   His comment was a misstep that could cost him.

Translations

step that is wrong

• Finnish: harha-askel (fi)
• French: faux pas (fr) m
• German: Fehltritt (de) m
• Romanian: pas greșit (ro) m, poticnire (ro) f

• Russian: оступиться (ru) (ostupítʹsja) (a verb, to stumble, to trip, no noun exists)
• Slovak: chyba (sk) f
• Spanish: paso en falso (es) m

error or mistake

• Finnish: harha-askel (fi)
• French: faux pas (fr) m, bourde (fr) f
• German: Fehltritt (de) m

• Romanian: pas greșit (ro) m
• Russian: ложный шаг (ru) (lóžnyj šag) m (equivalent of the French "faux pas" but only used idiomatically), оплошность (ru) (oplóšnostʹ) f

Verb

misstep (third-person singular simple present missteps, present participle missteping or misstepping, simple past and past participle missteped or misstepped)

1. (intransitive) to step badly or incorrectly

   My dance partner misstepped and landed on my toe.

2. (intransitive) to make an error or mistake

   I don't want to misstep; is this the right way?

Translations

to step badly or incorrectly

• Finnish: astua harhaan (fi)
• French: faire un faux pas, trébucher (fr), (colloquial) s'emmêler les pinceaux (fr)

• German: einen Fehltritt machen

to make an error or mistake

• Finnish: erehtyä (fi), hairahtua (fi)
• French: faire un faux pas, faire une bourde

• German: einen Fehltritt machen