Why do people say "pardon my French" when they curse?

[rikc]

I thought it was the language of love!!!

[Johnny_L.A]

TWAG: Based on old movies, it seems that the phrase gained popularity after WWI. I’d guess that returning doughboys might have picked up the habit of using rude words, and when one slipped out in polite company they attempted to cover the faux pas by explaining the word is a French one that just happens to sound like a rude word in English but is actually innocent.

ISTR this being asked before, and I made the same guess. I don’t remember if I was shown to be incorrect.

[Johnny_L.A]

Pardon my French

The phrase is uttered in an attempt to excuse the user of profanity or curses in the presence of those offended by it under the pretense of the words being part of a foreign language. Another interpretation is that the speaker is compelled to use the distasteful language and is apologizing to the audience for the necessity.

<snip>

It has been suggested that the French language is used because of the association of the French people with vulgarity, and that this euphemism is an example of Francophobia…

An innocuous theory is that when the English were looking around for a foreign language to put into the phrase “pardon my …”, the closest one and obvious choice was neighbouring French…

Some believe the expression may have come from 1950s intellectuals who were well-versed in French. In the fifties, 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.

[samclem]

When did cusswords become “French?”

The cites before the 1860’s would indicate that the speaker was using a “foreign” term/phrase/etc. and calling it “French.” It could be Latin, and the speaker knew it, but it was called “French.” But don’t automatically think that it came about because of the hatred by the English of things that were French.

The first actual euphemistic cite for “pardon/excuse my French” to mean excuse my use of foul language is about the middle of the 1800’s. And it wasn’t common much before the late 1800’s. But it certainly never came home with any veterans from any war.

*My contribution to a pretty interesting thread two years ago.