Mistaking a friend's mother for her grandmother is bad enough. But the stammering and yammering that follows leaves all three of you red-faced, squirming, mortified: "It's not that you look old, but that your daughter looks so young! Or maybe it's because you've let your hair go gray...which looks beautiful, by the way! Have I mentioned that I desperately need to get my eyes checked?"

Unintended insults are bound to happen, but there are ways to ease the post-blunder embarrassment. Here are smooth recovery plans for six common bloopers. (The best way to get out of the above jam? Just apologize sincerely, then change the subject — fast.)