Semantics
I would like to know why there seems to be a sense of inappropriateness when one says, "excuse me" to someone, especially when the person being told is a woman. In my native Spanish and in the particular culture I was raised, it is considered a very polite way to say "move out of the way", and the person who uses "excuse me" is considered polite and refined. However, in American English, I have noticed, that doesn't seem to be the case.
Any comments about this topic?
Top answer
I would like to know why there seems to be a sense of inappropriateness when one says, "excuse me" to someone, especially when the person being told is a woman. In my native Spanish and in the particular culture I was raised, it is considered a very polite way to say "move out of the way", and the person who uses "excuse me" is considered polite and refined. However, in American English, I have noticed, that doesn't seem to be the case.
- I would like to know why there seems to be a sense of inappropriateness when one says, "excuse me" to someone, especially when the person being told is a woman.
- In my native Spanish and in the particular culture I was raised, it is considered a very polite way to say "move out of the way", and the person who uses "excuse me" is considered polite and refined.
- However, in American English, I have noticed, that doesn't seem to be the case.
- Any comments about this topic?
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I would like to know why there seems to be a sense of inappropriateness when one says, "excuse me" to someone, especially when the person being told is a woman. In my native Spanish and in the particular culture I was raised, it is considered a very polite way to say "move out of the way", and the person who uses "excuse me" is considered polite and refined. However, in American English, I hav
0I've spent a lot of time visiting the USA, and I have never noticed the concerns you are expressing about this phrase.
Consider this definition from an American dictionary.
excuse me
? Excuse me is used as a polite way of starting to say something. It can be used when you are interrupting someone, trying to get someone's attention, or disagreeing with some0apatzinguenseI would like to know why there seems to be a sense of inappropriateness when one says, "excuse me" to someone
I have never heard about this with regard to American English; however, there are British people who are absolutely enraged when Americans (e.g., visiting London) use this phrase instead of "Sorry". They seem to sense a very big
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