Just wondering....
2007-04-29 17:40:46 · 11 answers · asked by mandy c 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It sort of has to do with sarcasm. It simply indicates a different language is used- sarcastically, since it's not.
2007-04-29 17:45:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
When saying "pardon my french" one is attempting to disguise the curse word as a part of another language.
2007-04-30 00:50:21 · answer #2 · answered by Jay 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This phrase, in which French refers to "bad language", is employed
when the speaker feels compelled to use an obscenity despite having
listeners who might be offended. It's a late 19th century euphemism
which first appeared in Harper's Magazine in 1895.
It is thought that the term French is employed in this sense as it
already had a history of association with things considered vulgar.
As far back as the early 16th century, French pox and the French
disease were synonyms for genital herpes, and French-sick was another
term for syphillis. The OED [Oxford English Dictionary] also equates
the adjective French with "spiciness", as in French letter for
"condom", French kiss (1923) and French (i. e. "sexually explicit")
novels (from 1749).
2007-04-30 00:44:49 · answer #3 · answered by melissamarie728 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
this is my guess:
In the 1950's, cursing was considered to be a major taboo, so the speaker would actually curse in French to be more polite. In these instances, "Pardon my French" would refer to actual French.
2007-04-30 00:46:21 · answer #4 · answered by chieko 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The reason is quite simple really...the french language has a reputation for containing one of the most colorful swear words evolved from Latin....the former primary language in Europe.
2007-04-30 00:49:16 · answer #5 · answered by razlan_zakaria 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Got start meeting more french people dude. When ever they are saying anything loud it sounds like they are angry.
Check out Quebec.
2007-04-30 00:44:28 · answer #6 · answered by t-i-oneg-er 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There's an old tradition of assigning 'dirty' or impolite things to the French: french kiss, french disease (STD), etc.
2007-04-30 00:45:07 · answer #7 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i think in french le f..ck means the seal
2007-04-30 00:43:33 · answer #8 · answered by lovetoday 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We say it because Frenchies say "Pardon my English".
I'm not kidding thats true.
2007-04-30 00:44:13 · answer #9 · answered by phil 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
the french are dirty and their mouths are filthy
2007-04-30 00:43:23 · answer #10 · answered by GreekQT 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋