https://old.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/g6fw5j/can_anyone_help_me_find_the_etymology_for_the/
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The etymology of "to put one's foot in it" is derived from a practice used by buck breakers in the antebellum South. Certain particularly creative buck breakers came up with "putting feet in it" as a ritual humiliation/psychological warfare tactic. The buck breaker would have a sponge cake frosted with whipped cream. They would place the cake outside the slave quarters and gather everyone around with the promise of a "cake walk". Instead, the buck breaker would then remove his boots and step on the cake before forcing one of the male slaves ("bucks") to lick his feet clean of all the whipped cream in front of everyone. Since slaves were otherwise not provided with expensive foods such as these, the meaning eventually morphed into meaning something delicious in AAVE.
Tariq Nasheed's seminal documentary Buck Breaking goes over this practice in detail. I highly recommend it.
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!!crosstalk nibble
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!!crosstalk hit 7792440
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I'm the original poster. Thanks for that explanation! Certainly the best etymological response with documentation to boot. You've solved a years-long mystery for me!
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you're welcome
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this shit got O&A in trouble years ago...i thought it was pretty funny...
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