How to interupt a convo or apologize for encroaching on personal space in 'British'?

It was explained to me by a British friend a long time ago that when Americans say “Excuse me” or “Pardon me”, and if a Brit were to hear this, that it’d be taken as though someone belched or passed gas.

Personal Space: In the U.S., if one had to walk in front of shopper in a store, one would probably say “excuse me” as they walked between the shopper and the products on the shelves. Or if someone bumped into someone else, they’d probably say ‘‘excuse me.’’

Interupting a convo or asking speaker to repeat: In the U.S., if one had trouble understanding someone, they might say “pardon Me” or, more informally, “excuse me”.

I remember a British friend explaining that he always thought Americans were belching or passing gas frequently, until he disovered that we were using these expressions differently. He thought it was a riot that we belched and farted so often and at such odd times.

So, how would one use British in the above examples, if saying “excuse me” or “pardon me” implies that one has belched or passed gas? What would one say in British if one interupted a conversation, needed someone to repeat themselves or bumped into someone else?

“Excuse me” is fine for interrupting a conversation, or attracting someones attention. I’d use “Sorry, I didn’t catch that” for a repetition request, and “Sorry” for bumping into someone. Actually, most British people will also say “Sorry” if someone bumps into them.

You’re correct that “Pardon Me” is mostly used for belches and stuff.

“Excuse me”. It’s crazy to suggest that because of one usage, it’s impossible for a phrase to have others - the context makes it completely clear. The phrase can also mean “I beg your pardon?”, be used as an apology for leaving a table/conversation/etc temporarily or having to answer a phone in company, and so on.

I better qualify my post - those are the conventions in parts of the country. There may be regional differences to some or all of that.

One of the most useful words for a visitor to Britain is this: “Sorry.”

Just clouted someone across the head with your briefcase? “Sorry!”
Need to push past someone? “Sorry!”
Need to check if you’re on the right train? “Sorry, does this go to Basingstoke?”
Want to sit down? “Sorry, is this seat taken?”
Trodden on someone’s toes? No need for a “Sorry” here, as chances are the person you’ve just crippled will proffer a “Sorry” of their own - it’s instinctive!

Sorry, it looks like Struan beat me to it with much of that.

Sorry!

No, no I’m sorry! :smiley:

It looks like it was unwise to base my impression of the British on a Grey Pupon commercial.

Pardon me, but do you have any Grey Pupon?

Excuse me my good man, but do you happen to have a pot of Gray Poupon for sale by any chance?

To which the only answer this Brit would be able to give is “Do I have any grey poop on what?”

I saw that line in Wayne’s World and for was totally :confused: until someone on this board explained…

If interrupting someone at work, I would tend to say “I’m really sorry to interrupt you, but…”

Though depending on context, I might also say: “Oi. Shut up you fucking toilet. Now LISTEN.”

Heh. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the same commercial wasn’t used to sell mustard to Britons.

I now begin writing Chapter One of All I Need to Know about World Cultures I Learned from US Marketing Campaigns.

Don’t forget the wonderful opening gambit, on phoning a telephone number clearly intended for enquires: “I wonder if you could help me…”

That’s actually a cool concept for a pop sociology book, especially if it covered misconceptions from all directions (not just from a U.S. perspective).

To give the Brits an idea of how the Yanks do it:

Bah! What sort of whinger goes about doing that? Just bottle it all up behind the stiff upper lip, that’s how it’s done.

And over here I think Grey Poupon is sold mainly on the basis of its authenic french gastronomic background. It even has the colours of the French flag on the lid.

http://www.wallysdeli.co.uk/shop/agora.cgi?cart_id=6895245.23462*Mw5J95&p_id=1149&xm=on&ppinc=search2

I think your friend lacks vocabulary. :eek:

Based on 50+ years as a polite English chap:

  • if I belch, “pardon me”
  • if I want to be sarcastic, “pardon me for breathing”
  • if I accidentally bump into someone, “excuse me”
  • if I need to get past someone, “excuse me”
  • if I need to attract someone’s attention, "“excuse me”
  • if I didn’t catch something, “sorry, could you repeat that?”

:eek:

I think I must be British!

Oh dear.
I think this is when class can become a factor in the UK.

In some circles (i.e. the genuinely posh) “pardon” is seen as horribly vulgar (the way that “toilet” is seen as vulgar, but “lavatory” is acceptable).

If one doesn’t understand “What?” is considered the appropriate way to ask someone to repeat themselves. In those circles, the only proper way to deal with passing wind is to completely ignore it.

The upper class wonders why everyone else thinks they’re rude.