excuse me
May I pass?
Excuse me is a polite phrase used to get someone's attention Excuse me, do you have the time? , to ask permission to pass Excuse me, I need to get through, or to apologize for a minor social breach like bumping into someone or interrupting.
It also expresses polite disagreement or mild indignation: Excuse me, but that's not what I said.
The tone can shift from genuinely courteous to pointed, depending on delivery.
Official release from punishment
- helloCommon spoken greeting
- heyInformal greeting or summons
- listenPerceive sound attentively
- ahemAttention-getting interjection
one moment · wait · hold on · look here · if I may · quick question · may I · coming through
Expressing regret or apology
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- forgiveCease to blame
- apologizeAcknowledge a fault
- oopsMinor blunder interjection
my bad · beg your pardon · whoops · clumsy · accident · mistake · regret · sincere
Announcement of one's passage
- make wayAllow passage through
- step asideWithdraw from a position
- gangwayNarrow corridor for access
- behind youIn your rear direction
on your left · clear the way · passing through · watch your back
Official release from punishment
- whatRequesting clarification or repetition
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- come againRequest for repetition
- say againRequest for repetition
In actual fact
- seriouslyWith sincere intent
- whatRequesting clarification or repetition
- are you kiddingExpression of disbelief
- I beg your pardonPolite request for repetition
how dare you · unbelievable · incredulous · offended · shocked · taken aback · indignant · affronted
pardon
Official release from punishment
ahem · one moment · wait · hold on · look here · if I may · quick question · may I · coming through · heads up
sorry
Expressing regret or apology
oops · my bad · beg your pardon · whoops · clumsy · accident · mistake · regret · sincere · didn't mean to
coming through
Announcement of one's passage
- make wayAllow passage through
- step asideWithdraw from a position
- gangwayNarrow corridor for access
behind you · on your left · clear the way · passing through · watch your back
pardon
Official release from punishment
- whatRequesting clarification or repetition
- sorryExpressing regret or apology
- come againRequest for repetition
say again · huh · beg your pardon · one more time · speak up
really
In actual fact
- seriouslyWith sincere intent
- whatRequesting clarification or repetition
- are you kiddingExpression of disbelief
I beg your pardon · how dare you · unbelievable · incredulous · offended · shocked · taken aback · indignant · affronted
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- Common Phraseshello, goodbye, thank you, please, sorry
- Pleasantriesplease, thank you, thanks, sorry, hello
- clarification requestswhat do you mean, pardon, say again, come again, repeat that
- courtesiesplease, thank you, thanks, sorry, pardon
- expressionsexpression, I love you, phrase, idioms, thank you
excuse, excused, excusable, inexcusable, excusing, exculpate, exculpatory, exculpation, unexcused