Pardon my French
"Pardon my French" or "Excuse my French" is a common English language phrase ostensibly disguising profanity as French. 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.
Usage
At least one source[1] suggests that the phrase "derives from a literal usage of the exclamation. In the 19th century, when English people used French expressions in conversation they often apologized for it - presumably because many of their listeners (then as now) wouldn't be familiar with the language". The definition cites an example from The Lady's Magazine, 1830:
Bless me, how fat you are grown! - absolutely as round as a ball: - you will soon be as embonpoint† (excuse my French) as your poor dear father, the major.
The phrase has been used in broadcast television and family films where less offensive words are preceded by "pardon my French" to intensify their effect without violating censorship or rating guidelines. A good example is in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Cameron calls Mr. Rooney and says, "Pardon my French, but you're an asshole". In another segment, Bueller says, "Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight that if you were to shove a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you'd have a diamond".
Related expressions
Incidentally, several expressions are used by both the English and the French to describe the same culturally unacceptable habit, but attributing the habit to the other people.
- "to take a French leave" (to depart a party or other gathering without taking polite leave of one's host) is referenced in French as filer à l'anglaise (lit. "flee English-style").
- "French letter" (now somewhat archaic; referring to a condom) is rendered in French as capote anglaise ("English hood" or "English cap").
- During the 16th century in England genital herpes was called the "French disease" and "French-sick" was a term for syphilis, while at the same time, it was called "le Mal de Naples" (the Napoli disease), hence attributing the fact the syphilis came from the south, to France and into England.[2][3]
Notes
References
- 1 2 Phrases.org.uk: "Excuse my French"<http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/130800.html>
- ↑ Eatough G (1984). Fracastoro's Syphilis. Liverpool: Francis Cairns.
- ↑ Girolamo Fracastoro, Ibid., p. 91
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