excuse-me

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noun

a dance in which a person may take another's partner

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example sentences from the Web for excuse-me

Whatever the excuse, in 2008 we were all subjected to Celebrity Apprentice.
Donald Trump Fires Woman For Not Calling Bill Cosby|Jack Holmes, The Daily Beast Video|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Augustus, also known as Augustus the Strong, was a party-boy, and loved any excuse to celebrate.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This same fear has recently resurfaced as the number one excuse for blocking a proposed subway through Beverly Hills.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A.|Geoff Manaugh|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But since the government has now permitted the River God to leave the U.K., that excuse can no longer wash.
Britain Has Lost Its Marbles: Elgin Loan Will Appease Putin|Geoffrey Robertson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In it, Weber suggested approaching a woman with lines like: “Excuse me, but you look beautiful.”
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc|Brandy Zadrozny|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the simplest of these childish tricks is the invention of an excuse for not instantly obeying a command, as "Come here!"
Children's Ways|James Sully
Could he be conscious of all this, and not excuse the unsteady youth—accuse himself?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
I must admit that there is some excuse for you; the pearl of Andalusia is undoubtedly ravissante.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
"A woman's particular reason is a man's feeble excuse," murmured Sir Lucien rudely.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Now she knew why her expected guest had not come last night, or remembered to send an excuse.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson

Idioms and Phrases with excuse-me

excuse me

Also, I beg your pardon, pardon me. Forgive me, as in Excuse me, please let me pass, or Pardon me for asking, or I beg your pardon, I don't think so. These phrases are used as an apology for interrupting a conversation, bumping into someone, asking a speaker to repeat something, politely disagreeing with something said, and so on. The first dates from about 1600, the first variant from about 1800, the second from the mid-1700s.

Also, excuse oneself. Allow or ask to leave or be released from an obligation. For example, Please excuse me, I have to leave now, or I asked the judge to excuse me from jury duty. [1920s]

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