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      • In a word, no. “Pardon my French” is an idiom exclusive to the English language, stemming from the two countries’ own millennium-old beef—and not one of the bourguignon type.
      www.rd.com/article/why-say-pardon-my-french-when-swear/
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  2. Aug 19, 2024 · But what about phrases which, on paper, make next to no sense? For instance, why do we apologise for our “French” when we swear in very clear English?

  3. Oct 8, 2013 · Centuries before Cameron shouted this over the phone to principal Ed Rooney, English-speaking people had been using the phrase “Pardon my French” to excuse their use of profanity. But why is it French and not Chinese, Swahili or nothing at all? The answer lies in European history. Old Rivalries.

  4. Pardon my French" or "Excuse my French" is a common English language phrase ostensibly disguising profanity as words from the French language. The phrase is uttered in an attempt to excuse the user of profanity, swearing, or curses in the presence of those offended by it, under the pretense of the words being part of a foreign language.

  5. Regardless of its origin story, “pardon my French” has become a widely recognized idiom in English today. While it may not always be necessary to use this phrase after swearing or using vulgar language, it can still be a polite way to acknowledge that one’s speech may have been offensive to others.

  6. Oct 26, 2012 · The phrase may have been appropriated for covering foul language because it fits the habit of ascribing unsavory habits or objects to the French through nicknames in English.

  7. Jul 3, 2024 · /ˈpɑr.dən maɪ frɛntʃ/ Meaning. an informal way to say sorry for using bad language. a light-hearted way to apologize for swearing, pretending the words are in another language. originally meant to apologize for using French words in English, especially when listeners might not understand them.

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