straight out the gate
When you make a stupid driving mistake out on the roadways that doesn't result in an accident, that's embarassing enough. But it has sort of an anonymous quality to it. These people don't know who they're shaking their fists at and calling "asshole!" in the safety of their own vehicle.
But when you totally fail straight out the gate, before you have even gotten on the road, THAT'S embarassing. As I was pulling out of my driveway to take a right-hand turn onto my street, I looked left, but barely glanced right before hitting the gas - totally missing the fact that my one neighbor, the only one who also lives on this stretch of one-lane road, was barreling straight towards me. I slammed on my brakes just in time, and as she drove by she looked at me with a completely horrified expression on her face, as if I had just poured boiling hot coffee on a litter of kittens.
Eesh. She knows where I live!
But when you totally fail straight out the gate, before you have even gotten on the road, THAT'S embarassing. As I was pulling out of my driveway to take a right-hand turn onto my street, I looked left, but barely glanced right before hitting the gas - totally missing the fact that my one neighbor, the only one who also lives on this stretch of one-lane road, was barreling straight towards me. I slammed on my brakes just in time, and as she drove by she looked at me with a completely horrified expression on her face, as if I had just poured boiling hot coffee on a litter of kittens.
Eesh. She knows where I live!