excuse me
1. A polite phrase used after one has done something that does not adhere to proper etiquette. Oh, excuse me—I didn't mean to bump into you, ma'am. Petey, say "excuse me" after you burp! Oh, excuse me, this is my doctor calling—normally, I wouldn't answer the phone in the middle of dinner.
2. A phrase said when one is trying to pass through a crowded area. This phrase is sometimes verbally shortened to 'scuse me. Excuse me, everyone, I have to get through with this cart. Scuse me, please, outta the way! Oh, excuse me, we need to squeeze past with our suitcases.
3. An expression of politeness that precedes a possible disagreement or an upsetting question. Excuse me, sir, but didn't you specifically tell us to make that change last month? Excuse me, but I wasn't the one who made that decision—it was Janice. Excuse me, ma'am, but I had nothing to do with the robbery! I was exonerated, remember?
4. An indignant response, often posed as a question. Excuse me? How can you say something that hurtful to me, your own mother? Well, excuse me for actually caring about your future, unlike you! Excuse me then! Next time, I won't bother trying to help you at all!
5. A request for one to repeat what they have said. Excuse me? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. What did she say? Excuse me, ma'am, what did you just say? Excuse me, but the phone cut out, and I missed the end of your explanation.
6. A phrase used when one is correcting a verbal mistake. We had 200, excuse me, 210 people at the event. A: "We have 98 prospective students joining us this weekend." B: "I'm sorry, actually, the latest count is 103." A: "Excuse me, then—we have 103 prospective students joining us this weekend." We had 11, no, excuse me, 12 people in our wedding party—we had to add one of Chuck's cousins at the last minute.
7. An apologetic phrase that precedes an interruption. Excuse me, sir, but your wife is calling on line two—she says it's urgent. A: "Excuse me, but I have the conference room booked for 3:00, and it's 3:04 now." B: "I'm so sorry! Fellas, let's adjourn this meeting for now." Excuse me—can I get into this row of files for a second? I don't mean to interrupt your filing, but there's an employee on the phone, and I need to pull his file.
8. An apologetic phrase that precedes a departure. Excuse me, I have to leave early for a doctor's appointment. I'll see you all tomorrow. Excuse me, but the train will be here in five minutes, so I really must be going. Excuse me, but it seems I've been called into a meeting with the CEO.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
excuse someone
1. . to forgive someone. (Usually with me. Said when interrupting or when some other minor offense has been committed. There are many mannerly uses of this expression.) John came in late and said, "Excuse me, please." John said "excuse me" when he interrupted our conversation. When John made a strange noise at the table, he said quietly, "Excuse me." John suddenly left the room saying, "Excuse me. I'll be right back."
2. to permit someone to leave; to permit someone to remain away from an event. The coach excused John from practice yesterday. The teacher excused John, and he ran quickly from the room.
Excuse me.
and Excuse, please.; Pardon (me).; 'Scusc (me).; 'Scusc, please. 1. an expression asking forgiveness for some minor social violation, such as belching or bumping into someone. ('Scuse is colloquial, and the apostrophe is not always used.) John: Ouch! Bob: Excuse me. I didn't see you there. Mary: Oh! Ow! Sue: Pardon me. I didn't mean to bump into you. Tom: Ouch! Mary: Oh, dear! What happened? Tom: You stepped on my toe. Mary: Excuse me. I'm sorry.
2. Please let me through.; Please let me by. Tom: Excuse me. I need to get past. Bob: Oh, sorry. I didn't know I was in the way. Mary: Pardon me. Sue: What? Mary: Pardon me. I want to get past you.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
excuse me
1. Also, I beg your pardon, pardon me. Forgive me, as in Excuse me, please let me pass, or Pardon me for asking, or I beg your pardon, I don't think so. These phrases are used as an apology for interrupting a conversation, bumping into someone, asking a speaker to repeat something, politely disagreeing with something said, and so on. The first dates from about 1600, the first variant from about 1800, the second from the mid-1700s.
2. Also, excuse oneself. Allow or ask to leave or be released from an obligation. For example, Please excuse me, I have to leave now, or I asked the judge to excuse me from jury duty. [1920s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.