I beg your pardon

1. I apologize for what I just did or said. Oh, I beg your pardon. I wasn't looking where I was going. Sorry, 'scuse me, I beg your pardon! Just trying to get through with this cart—apologies if I bump you! Nancy? Oh, I beg your pardon, you're not Nancy, are you?

2. What did you just say? Could you please repeat that? I beg your pardon, I couldn't quite hear you. A: "Where is the reception desk?" B: "I beg your pardon, dear?" A: "Where is the reception desk?" I beg your pardon? Oh, yes, the library is right this way, just down the hall.

3. An expression or exclamation of indignation or incredulous disbelief. A: "I'm afraid we're going to have to cut your funding, effective immediately." B: "I beg your pardon? Who on earth decided that?" A: "Mom, it looks like they gave you a ticket." B: "I beg your pardon? What for?" I beg your pardon? I have every right to be here, sir—my father's the CEO!

4. Could you please give me your attention. I beg your pardon, everyone, but I'd like to get tonight's proceedings underway. I beg your pardon, but I need to make a few announcements before we adjourn the meeting. After I'd said, "I beg your pardon?" several times, I had to resort to banging a mug on the table—it was the only way I could get everyone to stop talking!

5. I believe you are mistaken or incorrect; I beg to differ; I don't agree with you on that. I beg your pardon, but I believe you'll find that our school is actually one of the best in the state. I beg your pardon, sir, but you're mad if you think this medical research no longer merits funding! A: "I just don't see the need to keep him." B: "I beg your pardon? I know he's not a big hitter, but he's great defensively and wreaks havoc on the basepaths. Frankly, I think you'd be making a mistake to release him."

I beg your pardon

see under beg to differ.

I beg your ˈpardon

(formal)
1 used as a polite way of saying sorry for something you have just said or done: Did I step on your toe? Oh, I beg your pardon!
2 used to ask somebody to repeat what they have just said because you did not hear: ‘It’s on Duke Street.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ ‘Duke Street.’
3 (especially British English) used to show that you are angry or offended: I beg your pardon! I’d rather you didn’t refer to my father as ‘that fat man’.