Origin of Phrases - P
Pardon my French
Meaning: Excuse my foul language.
Example: Pardon my French, but if the neighbors don't like the lovely purple color I painted the house, they can kiss my ass.
Origin: The French have been enemies of Britain for the past thousand years (on and off), and are even today thought of with some suspicion by a lot of British people.
Perhaps because of this, the British (a very polite society) have considered the French to be vulgar and rude. To say "pardon my French" is to say that you are about to behave as a Frenchman would, i.e. you are about to say something vulgar.
Other examples of the British perspective on the behavior of the French have also found there way into the English language.
French Kissing includes the tongues.
French Lessons is a euphamism for prostitution.
French Polishing is a euphamism for oral sex.
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