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#116131 11/18/03 02:29 AM
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(Uh oh, another French post by gift horse).

I went out with a friend yesterday and noticed that each time she cursed she said, "Excuse my French". Aside from being slightly annoyed, I started to wonder, where did this saying come from? Is it my imagination that it seems a derogatory statement -- however indirectly -- towards the French? I've heard it numerous times, but didn't know its history. The saying seemed particularly ironic since many of the words my friend was apologizing for don't seem to have French origins. I did a little search in google and found this:

http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=232360

Do any of you know if these answers are accurate?


#116132 11/18/03 02:58 AM
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plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose..


#116133 11/18/03 04:22 AM
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My take on this is that the speaker is implying that [s]he is saying something in a language other than the usual English and makes a faux apology the same as one might do who dropped a Latin or Greek phrase into a casual conversation. Why French? I think it's an arbitrary choice because it's the most likely to be a second language for English speakers. I have never had the impression that there was any derogatory implication towards France, the French, their mores or their language. I could be wrong.


#116134 11/18/03 01:29 PM
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I have never had the impression that there was any derogatory implication towards France On the surface, there certainly was - but probably weighed up by that certain secret envy.


#116135 11/18/03 01:39 PM
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#116136 11/18/03 02:33 PM
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More often I have heard the phrase "pardon the language" when one slips a naughty word into conversation. Haven't heard the French connection for yonks years.


#116137 11/18/03 02:38 PM
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plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose..

Oui! Some people party like it's 1899.


#116138 11/18/03 03:00 PM
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1899 - Ahhh! "La Belle Epoque", quand le plaisir régnait!


#116139 11/20/03 07:28 PM
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In Poland, we say "Excuse my Latin"



#116140 11/20/03 07:48 PM
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rav!


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