What does it mean when you ask someone a question and they say pardon me? I hear that all the time but I have never been able to catch on.
2006-11-07 09:12:53 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
There are a few ways to use "pardon me" or similar phrases.
1. You say softly " Your breath stinks"
She can't hear you and says " I beg your pardon? " It means , please repeat what you just said , I can't hear you .
2. You say loud enough " You smell like a garbage truck"
She gets offended and says " I beg your PARDON ?!?@#!?!?!!!"
You can either change the subject or repeat the statement defiantly to get your point across.
3. Sometimes, you use it in the same statement as you speak, like: " Some people have that real f***ed up attitude,(pardon me for my crude language,) I hate talking to them !" In this instance, you are apologising for using some vulgarity and you're showing the person respect , in case she/he gets offended by your language.
Clear enough , I hope. Now you can try using "pardon me" the next time someone says something offensive to you .
2006-11-07 09:35:33 · answer #1 · answered by Toshihiro 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well perhaps it was the type of question and they are saying pardon me .. because they cant beleive you just ask such a quesiton ... or 2 perhaps you speak so quietly they just dont hear you ..
Umm one technique you can try is saying.. "Ohh... pardon me ??"
back .. and see what type of response you get from that . Good luck.
2006-11-07 18:06:14 · answer #2 · answered by Sockie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pardon me, I did not hear it. Pardon me, I don't really know or care. Pardon me, and just who are you? It goes like that usually.
2006-11-08 09:06:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when someone says pardon me after you ask something, either they did not understand what you were asking and need further explaination or they simply couldn't hear what you said, and need you to repeat yourself louder.
2006-11-07 17:26:32 · answer #4 · answered by Amanda P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It can be used in the context that they havent heard you or understood you properly and need you to repeat the question.....its a phrase used in Australia by some people, similar to saying....sorry?
2006-11-08 07:27:11 · answer #5 · answered by Lucy lou 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people did not hear all of the question or sometimes it is said out of disbelief (like "I cant believe you just said that!)
2006-11-08 12:13:06 · answer #6 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means they didn't hear what you said and you need to repeat it.
2006-11-08 04:56:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They either didn't hear the complete question, or they didn't understand it.
2006-11-08 06:19:40 · answer #8 · answered by Lydia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
same as excuse me? like they didnt hear or understand what u said
2006-11-07 17:22:42 · answer #9 · answered by JoAnne H 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
another phrase for excuse me. usually they want to tell you that they are busy and can't talk at the moment.
2006-11-07 17:25:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋