mauvais pas: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal, Literary, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “mauvais pas” mean?
A difficult, awkward, or embarrassing situation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A difficult, awkward, or embarrassing situation; a predicament.
Literally, a 'bad step' or 'false step' (from French). Used metaphorically to describe situations of moral, social, or practical danger or difficulty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Extremely rare in both, but more likely to be encountered in British texts from the 18th-19th centuries. In contemporary use, American usage is virtually non-existent.
Connotations
Conveys an air of classical education, erudition, or historical flair. Can sound pretentious or archaically humorous if used today.
Frequency
Obsolete in everyday speech. May appear in historical novels, academic writing on 18th-19th century literature, or as a deliberate stylistic choice.
Grammar
How to Use “mauvais pas” in a Sentence
find/be in + a mauvais pasget (someone) out of + a mauvais pasVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
May appear in literary criticism or historical analysis of older texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would be considered highly unusual.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mauvais pas”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mauvais pas”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mauvais pas”
- Using it to describe a simple mistake ('I made a mauvais pas and sent the email to the wrong person.' – Incorrect).
- Pronouncing 'pas' as /pæs/ instead of /pɑː/.
- Treating it as a countable noun without an article ('He was in mauvais pas.' – Incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or highly literary. In contemporary English, words like 'predicament', 'awkward situation', or 'tight spot' are used instead.
In a British context, it is often anglicised to /ˌməʊveɪ ˈpɑː/ (moh-VAY PAH). In American, it may be /ˌmoʊˈveɪ ˈpɑː/ (moh-VAY PAH). The final 's' in both words is silent.
Theoretically, yes (e.g., 'several mauvais pas'), but given its extreme rarity, plural usage is almost never encountered.
A 'faux pas' is a minor social blunder or breach of etiquette (a 'false step' in behaviour). A 'mauvais pas' is the resulting difficult or embarrassing *situation* caused by such blunders or other misfortunes (a 'bad step' into trouble).
A difficult, awkward, or embarrassing situation.
Mauvais pas is usually formal, literary, archaic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be in a mauvais pas”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a French aristocrat (Monsieur Mau) taking a wrong step (pas) on the dance floor, causing a huge social scandal. His 'Mau-vais pas' lands him in a terrible predicament.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/MORAL DANGER IS A FALSE PHYSICAL STEP.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'mauvais pas' be MOST appropriately used?