beg your pardon

beg your pardon
beg your pardon
◇ The phrase I beg your pardon is used in polite speech to apologize when you have done something impolite or when you have made a mistake.

I beg your pardon. [=sorry, excuse me] I didn't mean to bump into you like that.

I beg your pardon. You're correct; the amount is 12 dollars.

It can be used to show that you are annoyed or offended by something that another person has said.

“That boy isn't very bright.” “I beg your pardon! That's my son!”

It can also be used as a question when you have not heard or understood something clearly.

I beg your pardon [=excuse me, sorry]? What did you say?

The shorter form beg pardon is also used informally this way.

“He's been in Haiti for the past two months.” “Beg pardon? He's been in Hawaii?” “No, Haiti.”

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Main Entry: ↑beg

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • beg your pardon — I. excuse me, please do not be offended    I beg your pardon, but I am using this phone booth. II. what did you say? will you repeat what you said?    Beg your pardon? Did you say you are Paul Newman? …   English idioms

  • beg your pardon — (I) beg your pardon See at: pardon me …   New idioms dictionary

  • beg your pardon — excuse me, pardon me …   English contemporary dictionary

  • I beg your pardon — 1) spoken formal used for asking someone to repeat something because you did not hear them. Pardon? or Sorry? are less formal ways of saying this Are you ready to leave? I beg your pardon? I was just asking if you re ready to leave. 2) spoken… …   English dictionary

  • I beg your pardon (or pardon me) — used to express polite apology or to indicate that one has not heard or understood something. → pardon …   English new terms dictionary

  • I beg your pardon — (I) beg your pardon See at: pardon me …   New idioms dictionary

  • I beg your pardon? — ● pardon …   Useful english dictionary

  • I beg your pardon — excuse me, pardon me, please forgive me …   English contemporary dictionary

  • I BEG YOUR PARDON — …   Useful english dictionary

  • beg — [beg] v past tense and past participle begged present participle begging ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(ask)¦ 2¦(money/food)¦ 3¦(animal)¦ 4 I beg your pardon 5 I beg to differ 6 beg the question 7 be going begging 8 beg, borrow, or steal ▬▬▬▬▬ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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