ins Fettnäpfchen treten

to put one's foot in it; to commit a faux pas

Origin

Attested since the 19th c.; probably from the pot of boot-grease (or grease caught under smoked meat) by the hearth - an inattentive visitor would step in it and annoy the lady of the house.

Source

Building blocks

Words in this expression

dieser· this das Fettnäpfchen· faux pas die Frage· question gehörig· proper ins· into the treten· to step

Grammar that uses this word

Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
Two-way prepositions contrast: Wo? vs. Wohin? (where vs. where to)Wechselpräpositionen Kontrast: Wo? vs. Wohin?
Position of object pronounsStellung der Objektpronomen
Reflexive verbs (sich freuen, sich waschen)Reflexive Verben (sich freuen, sich waschen)
Light-verb construction 'in Kraft treten' (to come into force)Funktionsverbgefüge 'in Kraft treten'
Nominal style vs. verbal styleNominalstil vs. Verbalstil

Examples

Mit bin ich getreten.
With that question I really put my foot in it.