"Sorry"

Posted by Ward Fredericks on October 24, 2003

"Sorry" is often used to indicate that the listener has not heard the comment and wishes it repeated. it is, I assume, short for 'sorry, could you say that again'.
I live in California, and told an English friend that we had elected Arnold 'the Terminator' as Governor. He said -- "sorry" I repeated it -- and he said he heard it right the first time, and he's sorry. What a wonderful language we share.