Beg-pardon
an expression of apology (used especially in the phrase with no beg-pardons).
Read Also:
- Beg the question
to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: to beg alms; to beg forgiveness. to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore: He begged me for mercy. Sit down, I beg you. to take for granted without basis or justification: a statement that begs the very point we’re disputing. to […]
- Beg to differ
Disagree with someone, as in John told me Max was sure to win, but I beg to differ—I don’t think he has a chance . This courteous formula for expressing disagreement echoes similar uses of beg in the sense of “ask,” such as I beg your pardon , so used since about 1600. Also see […]
- Beg, borrow, or steal
Obtain by any possible means, as in You couldn’t beg, borrow, or steal tickets to the Olympics. This term is often used in the negative, to describe something that cannot be obtained; Chaucer used it in The Tale of the Man of Law. [ Late 1300s ]
- Begorra
(used as a euphemism for by God): It’s a fine day, begorra. Historical Examples Thin, begorra, yez may as well get off the car an’ fire away at wanst. Sporting Society, Vol. I (of 2) Various begorra, you’re wilcome to no more watermillons, ye’ll find! The Universal Reciter Various The man for whose benefit the […]
- Begad
interjection (archaic, slang) an emphatic exclamation Historical Examples I pathrolled for tin minutes, an’ begad, before ’twas over, I blushed. Soldier Stories Rudyard Kipling I’ve had thirty years of it and, begad, I’d like to go back again. The Works of Rudyard Kipling: One Volume Edition Rudyard Kipling Your London girls would give many a […]