1
general::
Phrase(s): Excuse me. [and] Excuse, please.; Pardon (me).; ’Scuse (me).; ’Scuse, please.
1. an expression asking forgiveness for some minor social violation, such as belching or bumping into someone. (’Scuse is colloquial, and the apostrophe is not always used.) • John: Ouch! Bob: Excuse me. I didn’t see you there. • Mary: Oh! Ow! Sue: Pardon me. I didn’t mean to bump into you. • Tom: Ouch! Mary: Oh, dear! What happened? Tom: You stepped on my toe. Mary: Excuse me. I’m sorry. 2. Please let me through.; Please let me by. • Tom: Excuse me. I need to get past. Bob: Oh, sorry. I didn’t know I was in the way. • Mary: Pardon me. Sue: What? Mary: Pardon me. I want to get past you.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs