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.”