(pardons, pardoning, pardoned)
1.
You say 'Pardon?' or 'I beg your pardon?' or, in American English, 'Pardon me?' when you want someone to repeat what they have just said because you have not heard or understood it. (SPOKEN)
'Will you let me open it?'-'Pardon?'-'Can I open it?'...
CONVENTION [formulae]
2.
People say 'I beg your pardon?' when they are surprised or offended by something that someone has just said. (SPOKEN)
'Would you get undressed, please?'-'I beg your pardon?'-'Will you get undressed?'
CONVENTION [feelings]
3.
You say 'I beg your pardon' or 'I do beg your pardon' as a way of apologizing for accidentally doing something wrong, such as disturbing someone or making a mistake. (SPOKEN)
I was impolite and I do beg your pardon...
CONVENTION [formulae]
4.
Some people say '
Pardon me' instead of 'Excuse me' when they want to politely get someone's attention or interrupt them. (
mainly BRIT SPOKEN; in AM, use excuse me
)
Pardon me, are you finished, madam?
CONVENTION [formulae]
5.
You can say things like 'Pardon me for asking' or 'Pardon my frankness' as a way of showing you understand that what you are going to say may sound rude. (SPOKEN)
That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.
CONVENTION [politeness]
6.
Some people say things like 'If you'll pardon the expression' or 'Pardon my French' just before or after saying something which they think might offend people. (SPOKEN)
It's enough to make you wet yourself, if you'll pardon the expression.
CONVENTION [formulae]
7.
If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is pardoned, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished.
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed
•
Pardon is also a noun.
He was granted a presidential pardon.
N-COUNT