Phrase Finder

Be excused

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Be excused'?

Euphemism for ‘go to the lavatory’.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Be excused'?

This expression isn’t as old as one might imagine. The first use of it in print that I’ve found is from Harrap’s Standard French & English Dictionary, 1947:

Sortir… Est-ce que je peux sortir?, May I be excused?

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Be excused

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