# Excuse me.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me/182537>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 17, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me/182537 "2003-06-17T20:29:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![the\_duke\_69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@the\_duke\_69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_duke_69)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me/182537/1 "2003-06-17T20:29:32Z")

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What is the orgin of saying excuse me after a natural bodily function? Like after we burp or fart… I mean we dont say excuse me after we blink or breath… any help would be greatfull.

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**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me/182537/2 "2003-06-17T20:35:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by the\_duke\_69 \*  
> \*\*What is the orgin of saying excuse me after a natural bodily function? Like after we burp or fart… I mean we dont say excuse me after we blink or breath… any help would be greatfull. \*\*

Because burping and farting involve potentially loud noises, bad smells and are embarrasing and/or offensive.

Blinking and breathing, however, are not.

Besides, everyone breathes and blinks all the time. Not everyone farts and/or burps all the time.

Zev Steinhardt

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**Author:** ![skaterboarder87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excuse-me/182537/3 "2003-06-17T20:43:58Z")

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Ah come on, whoever finds burping and farting offensive deserve to have it done in front of them.