Excuse my French

[enomaj]

What is the origin of this phrase and what do French speakers say instead?

[Johnny_L.A]

Previous thread.

[enomaj]

Thanks. Shoulda searched.

[Kobal2]

As to what the French use instead, well, there’s no direct equivalence ; that is to say, we don’t attribute coarse language to some other nationality. The canned phrases used in the same circumstances are “si je puis me permettre” (lit. “If I may allow myself”) or “passez moi l’expression” (“overlook/forgive my saying so”)

[Johnny_L.A]

Sacred blue!

[BigT]

@Kobal2

As to what the French use instead, well, there’s no direct equivalence ; that is to say, we don’t attribute coarse language to some other nationality. The canned phrases used in the same circumstances are “si je puis me permettre” (lit. “If I may allow myself”) or “passez moi l’expression” (“overlook/forgive my saying so”)

That sounds close to the more popular version I’ve heard in English: “Excuse me for saying this, but…” I’ve especially heard it a lot from (U.S.) Southerners.