# thousand pardons

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/thousand-pardons
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A conventionally polite request to be pardoned or excused.

## Examples

- A thousand pardons, I did not mean to bump into you.
- I am so sorry for interrupting your meeting; a thousand pardons for the intrusion.
- He offered a thousand pardons for his uncharacteristic outburst, hoping his sincere apology would restore the peace between them.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.