accused

accuse (one) of (something)

To blame one for a crime or wrongdoing. I can't believe he would accuse me of stealing money out of his wallet. Don't accuse him of lying without any evidence. They're accusing me of robbing their house, but, I swear, I didn't do it!

See also: accuse, of

never ask pardon before you are accused

Apologizing for something before someone has laid blame on you for it only ensures that you are thought of as the guilty party. A: "I accidentally scratched his car pulling out of the parking lot last night. Should I offer to pay for it?" B: "Never ask pardon before you're accused. He might not even notice."

See also: accused, ask, before, never, pardon

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Never ask pardon before you are accused.

Prov. Do not apologize for something if nobody knows that you did it, because by apologizing, you are admitting that you did it. Alan: Should I apologize to Jane for losing the necktie she gave me? Jane: Wait and see if she asks you what happened to the necktie. Never ask pardon before you are accused.

See also: accused, ask, before, never, pardon

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.