Excuse meaning in English

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Definition

to excuse: to pardon, to forgive; to explain, justify why you did something bad verb
an excuse: a reason, justification for doing something bad noun
Excuse me!: Pardon me! Sorry! idiom

Examples

  • "Please excuse the mess, we had a party last night."
  • "Excuse me, I think I'm sitting here."
  • "Just a reminder, folks: Radio Rhubarb will stay with this story until the bodies are discovered, excuse me, I mean until the situation is explained."
  • "Bruno : Excuse me, who are you talking to?"
  • "Please excuse me for one second."
  • "Claire : Excuse me, sir?"
  • "Edward : Uhh, excuse me, Master Glen?"
  • "Dave : Excuse me, can you tell me where the toilets are please?"
  • "Um, excuse me... Hello?"
  • "Kiwi bloke : Excuse me?"
  • "Edward : EXCUSE ME!"
  • "Horatio : Excuse me."
  • "Oh... Excuse me, I think I'm sitting here."
  • "Jean : Yes... I excuse myself, Mrs. Brady."
  • "Brian : Okay... Um, excuse me... Hello?"
  • "Johnny Bushhorn : Excuse me... Marlene?"
  • "Philip : Excuse me, lady, are you Australian by any chance?"
  • "Please excuse my partner."
  • "Brighton : Excuse me a minute."
  • "Edward : Ok... Excuse me!"
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks below with either to make or to do.
Remember to conjugate the verbs correctly.

Susie: We are going to some changes to the new advertising campaign.
Philip: Why is that? Have you a mistake?
Susie: No! The new perfume has changed.
Philip: What do you mean? Are you just excuses?
Susie: Horatio dropped a bottle of whisky into the perfume when he was stirring it.
Philip: I thought he had given up drinking.
Susie: Well, he is progress. He has now given up whisky and drinks Bacardi instead.

Fill in the blanks below with either to make or to do.
Remember to conjugate the verbs correctly.

Susie: We are going to make 1 some changes to the new advertising campaign.
Philip: Why is that? Have you made 2 a mistake?
Susie: No! The new perfume has changed.
Philip: What do you mean? Are you just making 3 excuses?
Susie: Horatio dropped a bottle of whisky into the perfume when he was stirring it.
Philip: I thought he had given up drinking.
Susie: Well, he is making 4 progress. He has now given up whisky and drinks Bacardi instead.
1 make: In English the expression 'to make some changes' means to alter or amend something in some way. Susie uses the near future tense here to refer to something which is planned to happen soon.
2 made: To 'make a mistake' means to cause an error by inattention, negligence or because of false information. This construction is formed with the verb 'to make'. Philip uses the present perfect tense here to ask if Susie made a mistake in the recent past.
3 making: 'To make an excuse' means to give a reason or justification in defence of a fault or offence. This construction is formed with the verb to make. The present continuous form of the verb is used here because Philip is asking Susie if she is making excuses now.
4 making: To 'make progress' means to noticeably improve or develop. This construction is formed with the verb to make. The present continuous form of the verb is used here to report an action that is still taking place: Horatio is currently improving with regard to his drinking (apparently).

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