"Excuse my French"
Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 23, 2002
In Reply to: "Excuse my French" posted by Michael Kirk-Smith on February 23, 2002
: For "Excuse my French", Phrase Finder gives the definition as the origin. Has anyone an idea of the actual origin?
: Meaning
: Please forgive my swearing.
:
: Origin
: A coy phrase where someone who has used a swearword attempts to pass it off as french.
: Thanks
: m.
I think this goes back to an age-old
rivalry between France and the UK.
In the UK, anything considered a bit risque
or off-color was considered to be of French origin.
For instance: "French kiss"
"French tickler" etc.
So if someone used a swear word then they would attribute
that word to the French as in "Excuse my French, but what the f**k happened to
that report I was supposed to have this morning??".
Can anybody east of NY
confirm this?
- "Excuse my French" ESC
02/23/02
- Remember Agincourt The Fallen 02/23/02
- Remember Agincourt Word Camel 02/23/02
- Pardon my
French R. Berg 02/23/02
- Pardon my French James Briggs
02/23/02
- English leave (Pardon my French) masakim 02/25/02
- Pardon my French Word Camel 02/25/02
- Pardon my French James Briggs
02/23/02
- Pardon my
French R. Berg 02/23/02
- Remember Agincourt Word Camel 02/23/02
- Remember Agincourt The Fallen 02/23/02