"I accept your apology, Doctor, although I admit more serious gaffes have been committed in my presence by renowned diplomatic dignitaries."

She proposed that Bush simply be "underwhelming," making one moderately serious gaffe to fuel concerns about his preparedness for office while also "exceeding expectations."

Jerry Brown won several primaries but made a serious gaffe.

But they quickly learned that that was a serious gaffe.

However, the only serious gaffe she committed during the campaign was to say that for the first time she felt proud of her country.

Well, I'm glad we got that figured without making a serious gaffe.

Detroit remains an insular, racially divided city where almost any criticism of automobiles represents a serious social gaffe, but it is showing signs of becoming cosmopolitan.

Conversely, wearing a tie to which you have no right is a serious social gaffe.

You've entered into a culinary realm of sufficient complexity and coherence that a serious gaffe could be committed.

On top of all that, there were serious gaffes in the plotline that filled the story with holes the size of craters.