The concept is:

That embarrassed feeling one has when uncertain if they have just spoken a thought out loud, usually while deep in thought in a public space.

Is there a word or phrase for this?

If not, I just posted a call to invent one on my blog. All contributers would be very welcome. Here's the link:

http://intimationsofubiquity.blogspot.com/2007/03/language-did-i-just-say-that-out-loud.html

I hope someone can put me on the right track. Thanks to Anu and all of you for existing.

Oops

Sorry !

Foot-in-mouth disease.

If the concept were a bit clearer maybe. One has the embarrassed feeling and who are they ? and who is in deep thought?

Deep thought brings back shreds of a song:
" Ï was just thinking out loud "..... "Pennsylvania train station never came....e , heroes are all gone" ...I think it was The Band playing that.

I think anyway " Uh?" would be sufficient

The concept is pretty clear, BranShea. As for "one" and "they," that's the legacy of the modern era's attempt to eliminate sexist pronouns. It sucks, but whatever.

There have been some sapient responses at Nancy Friedman's Website:

http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com/away_with_words/2007/03/the_greeks_had__1.html

>>>Oops



Yup, I think Dale has it.

Given a VERY large value for "modern". The use of "they" as a gender-neutral 3rd-person singular pronoun is centuries old.

Given a VERY large value for "modern".

I never considered Chaucer to be a modern writer, but, I guess, that makes Shakespeare a postmodern writer.

Thanks for the confirmation, uncle. I knew it was old, but wasn't sure just how old.

Thanks for the confirmation

You're welcome, Max. Language Log has a bunch more data on singular they. And, yours truly once waxed wroth on it, too.