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beg one's pardon

idiom

Definition of beg one's pardon

—the phrase I beg your pardon is used in polite speech to apologize when one has done something impolite or has made a mistake
  • I beg your pardon. 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 one is 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 one has not heard or understood something clearly
  • I beg your pardon. 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."

Word by Word Definitions

beg play

  1. : to ask for as a charity (see charity 1a)

  2. : to ask earnestly for : entreat

  3. : to require as necessary or appropriate

See the full definition of beg
pardon play

  1. : indulgence

  2. : the excusing of an offense without exacting a penalty

  3. : a release from the legal penalties of an offense

  1. : to absolve from the consequences of a fault or crime

  2. : to allow (an offense) to pass without punishment : forgive

  3. : to relieve of a penalty improperly assessed

See the full definition of pardon

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