TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
QUESTION EMBARRASSANTE [4 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2011-05-09
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Idiomatic Expressions
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- spill the beans
1, record 1, English, spill%20the%20beans
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- put your foot in it 2, record 1, English, put%20your%20foot%20in%20it
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
spill the beans: [literal French translation:] Renverser les haricots. 1, record 1, English, - spill%20the%20beans
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Expressions idiomatiques
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- mettre les pieds dans le plat
1, record 1, French, mettre%20les%20pieds%20dans%20le%20plat
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- se mettre les pieds dans les plats 1, record 1, French, se%20mettre%20les%20pieds%20dans%20les%20plats
correct
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Gaffer, commettre brutalement une indiscrétion, se placer malhabilement dans une situation embarrassante, agiter maladroitement une question qu'il ne faudrait pas aborder et y patauger. 1, record 1, French, - mettre%20les%20pieds%20dans%20le%20plat
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2003-12-18
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Recruiting of Personnel
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- mirror-image question
1, record 2, English, mirror%2Dimage%20question
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A question during an interview that repeats an element of the previous answer. 2, record 2, English, - mirror%2Dimage%20question
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The minor-image question bounces back the information or feelings of the other person and is often used in counselling. 2, record 2, English, - mirror%2Dimage%20question
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Recrutement du personnel
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- question reformulée
1, record 2, French, question%20reformul%C3%A9e
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
La question reformulée est parfois moins embarrassante sous sa deuxième forme. 1, record 2, French, - question%20reformul%C3%A9e
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
La reformulation. Faire reformuler une question par votre interlocuteur consiste à lui demander de bien vouloir répéter sa demande sous une autre forme. 1, record 2, French, - question%20reformul%C3%A9e
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 1986-12-05
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Translation
- Language Problems
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- hot potato 1, record 3, English, hot%20potato
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Traduction
- Problèmes de langue
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- sujet épineux 1, record 3, French, sujet%20%C3%A9pineux
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- question embarrassante 2, record 3, French, question%20embarrassante
- cadeau empoisonné 3, record 3, French, cadeau%20empoisonn%C3%A9
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 1985-10-28
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Translation
- Language Problems
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- loaded information 1, record 4, English, loaded%20information
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Traduction
- Problèmes de langue
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- information hautement tendancieuse 1, record 4, French, information%20hautement%20tendancieuse
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
(propagande) question :question embarrassante(difficile, tendancieuse, selon le contexte) 1, record 4, French, - information%20hautement%20tendancieuse
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: