ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pardon me

idiom
Meaning

Sorry; said as an apology.


Examples
SIMPLE

Pardon me, is this seat taken?

CONTEXTUAL

Pardon me, I did not mean to bump into you while I was rushing to catch the train.

COMPLEX

Pardon me for interrupting your conversation, but I believe you dropped this important document on the floor.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    pardon my French

    To excuse the speaker's frankness of expression or profanity.

© 2026 English Reference