When politicians make mistakes they are expected to apologise, and failing to say sorry is a faux pas - a remark made in a social situation that causes embarrassment or offence.
If we have committed what could be considered a faux pas, we show embarrassment, and then we're less likely to be attacked by other members of the tribe.
You know what I mean? I know that, I don't know if that's a faux pas to say now, you know about saying that someone's a character actor, but you truly are.