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Region: General | Usage example: Pardon my French, but that idea is awful.

Pardon my French

Meaning

Apologize for swearing or saying something impolite.

Usage

Often precedes slang or taboo expressions.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Victorian polite excuse when using profanity.

Used since the 19th century when people feared sounding rude.

Related Idioms

Bite your tongue

AVoid saying something unwise or hurtful.

Add insult to injury

Make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something hurtful on top of the original problem.

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

More Idioms

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.

Barking up the wrong tree

Accusing or pursuing the wrong person/idea; making a false assumption.