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A2 verb #2,500 le plus courant 11 min de lecture

excuse

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces excuse en 30 secondes
Explication excuse in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'excuse' is mostly learned as part of the phrase 'Excuse me.' This is a 'magic phrase' used to get someone's attention or to move past someone in a crowd. It is very polite. You might also learn it in the context of 'Excuse me, where is the bathroom?' or 'Excuse me, what time is it?' At this stage, you don't need to worry about the complex grammar of 'excusing someone from a duty.' Just think of it as a polite way to start a conversation or ask for help. It is one of the first words you use to be kind and respectful in English. You don't need to know the past tense or the noun form yet. Just focus on the sound and the social use. It is like saying 'please' or 'thank you.' It helps people feel comfortable when you talk to them. Imagine you are in a shop and you want to ask the price of something. You say, 'Excuse me, how much is this?' That is the perfect A1 use of the word. It is a tool for basic survival and politeness in an English-speaking environment.
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At the A2 level, you start to use 'excuse' as a real verb. This means you use it to talk about being allowed to miss something. The most common situation is school. You might say, 'The teacher excused me from the lesson because I was sick.' Here, you are using the past tense 'excused.' You are also using the preposition 'from.' This is a big step up from A1. You are now describing a situation where someone in charge gives you permission to not do something. You might also use it to ask to leave a table: 'May I be excused?' This is very common in families. You are asking for permission to go. You also learn that 'excuse' can be used when you make a small mistake. 'Please excuse my bad English' is a common A2 sentence. It shows you know you are making mistakes and you are asking the other person to be patient. You are starting to see that 'excuse' is about permission and being okay with things that are not perfect.
At the B1 level, you use 'excuse' in more varied social and professional situations. You understand the difference between 'excuse me' (to get attention) and 'excuse someone for' (to forgive a small mistake). You might say, 'Please excuse the delay in my response; I was away on holiday.' This is a professional way to explain why you didn't email back quickly. You also start to use the reflexive form: 'He excused himself from the meeting to take a call.' This means he politely asked to leave. You are becoming more aware of social etiquette. You know that 'excusing' someone is a way to be flexible and kind. You might also encounter the word in more complex reading, like a story where a character is 'excused from military service.' You understand that this is an official release. You are also starting to notice the difference in pronunciation between the verb and the noun, which helps your listening skills. You can now use 'excuse' to navigate slightly more difficult social interactions with confidence.
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At the B2 level, you can use 'excuse' to discuss more abstract concepts and formal justifications. You might use it in an essay to say, 'Economic hardship does not excuse criminal activity.' Here, you are using 'excuse' to mean 'justify' or 'provide a valid reason for.' This is a more sophisticated use. You also understand the nuances of 'excuse' versus 'exempt' or 'pardon.' You can participate in a debate and say, 'I think we should excuse first-time offenders from harsh penalties.' You are comfortable with the passive voice: 'Under no circumstances should such behavior be excused.' You also know common idioms like 'Excuse my French' (used after swearing) or 'Excuse me for living' (used sarcastically). Your use of the word is now very natural. You can use it to be very polite, very formal, or even slightly sarcastic depending on the tone of your voice. You understand that 'excusing' is a powerful social and legal tool for managing expectations and responsibilities.
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At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the subtle connotations of 'excuse.' You can use it to describe complex social maneuvers. For example, you might analyze how a politician 'excuses' their past mistakes by blaming the circumstances. You understand that 'excusing' can sometimes be a way of avoiding responsibility. You are familiar with the legal use of the word, such as 'excusing a juror' or 'excusing a debt.' You can use the word in high-level academic writing to discuss the 'excusability' of certain actions in moral philosophy. You also pick up on the tone of 'excuse' in literature—how a character's refusal to excuse another character reveals their personality. You are aware of the historical etymology of the word (from Latin 'ex-' meaning 'out' and 'causa' meaning 'cause/charge'). This helps you see the word as 'removing someone from a charge.' Your vocabulary is rich enough that you choose 'excuse' specifically when you want to imply a release from a duty, rather than just general forgiveness.
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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'excuse' is complete. You can use it with total precision in any context, from a legal brief to a poetic description. You understand the most obscure uses, such as 'excusing' a person from a formal ceremony or the nuances of 'excused absence' in complex organizational policies. You can use the word to create subtle irony or double meanings. You might write about the 'excuses we make for ourselves' in a psychological analysis, exploring the verb's relationship with the human ego. You are also aware of how the word has changed over time and how it functions in different dialects of English. You can effortlessly switch between the verb and noun forms, using their different pronunciations to add rhythm and clarity to your speech. For you, 'excuse' is not just a word; it's a versatile instrument that you use to negotiate the fine lines of social obligation, moral responsibility, and linguistic grace. You can explain the difference between 'excusing' an action and 'justifying' it with philosophical depth.
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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

excuse en 30 secondes

  • To release someone from a duty or a requirement politely.
  • To justify or provide a reason for a minor mistake or social slip.
  • To ask for permission to leave or to get someone's attention.
  • A versatile verb used in schools, offices, and daily social life.

The verb excuse, at its core, represents a social or official act of releasing an individual from a specific obligation, duty, or expectation. When you excuse someone, you are essentially granting them a 'pass' or permission to bypass a requirement that would otherwise be mandatory. This specific sense of the word is deeply rooted in the concept of authority and permission. It is not merely about saying 'sorry' or asking for attention; it is about the formal or informal removal of a burden. In a classroom setting, a teacher might excuse a student from a physical education class due to an injury. In a professional environment, a manager might excuse an employee from a late-night meeting because of a family emergency. The act of excusing involves a recognition of a valid reason—a justification—that overrides the standard rule or duty. This nuance is critical: to excuse is to validate the reason for non-compliance. It transforms what would be a 'failure to perform' into a 'permitted absence.' This verb operates as a bridge between rigid rules and the flexibility required by human circumstances. It acknowledges that while rules exist, there are legitimate exceptions that deserve to be honored without penalty.

Formal Release
The act of officially allowing someone to skip a duty, such as jury duty or a military requirement.
Social Permission
Asking to leave a social gathering or a dinner table before others have finished.
Justification
Providing a reason that makes a mistake or a failure seem less serious or acceptable.

The doctor wrote a note to excuse Sarah from her swimming lessons for two weeks while her ear infection healed.

Furthermore, the verb 'excuse' carries a weight of absolution. When a debt is excused, it is forgiven; the debtor is no longer required to pay. When a mistake is excused, the person who made it is no longer held responsible in a punitive way. This aspect of the word overlaps with 'forgive' and 'pardon,' but 'excuse' often implies a more procedural or logical release rather than a purely emotional one. It is the mechanism by which systems—educational, legal, and social—accommodate the unpredictability of life. Without the ability to excuse, systems would be brittle and unforgiving. By using this word, speakers navigate the delicate balance between maintaining standards and showing compassion. It is a tool for maintaining social harmony, ensuring that people are not unfairly punished for things beyond their control. In everyday English, this verb is a staple of polite interaction, allowing us to move through the world with grace when we cannot meet every single expectation placed upon us.

Please excuse my late arrival; the traffic was unexpectedly heavy due to the parade.

Contextual Nuance
In legal terms, to excuse a juror means to dismiss them from service because of a conflict of interest.

Using the verb excuse correctly requires an understanding of its transitive nature and the specific prepositions that usually follow it. The most common structure is 'to excuse someone from something.' This 'something' is typically a duty, a task, a class, or a meeting. For example, 'The coach excused the players from practice.' Here, the coach is the authority figure, the players are the ones being released, and the practice is the duty. Another common structure is 'to excuse someone for something,' which usually refers to a minor social slip-up or a mistake. 'Please excuse me for being late' is a classic example. In this context, 'excuse' acts as a request for forgiveness or understanding. It is less about being released from a future duty and more about being released from the blame of a past action. Understanding these two prepositional patterns—'from' for duties and 'for' for actions—is the key to mastering the verb's utility in daily conversation.

The Passive Voice
It is very common to see this verb in the passive: 'I was excused from the meeting.' This focuses on the person receiving the permission.
The Imperative
'Excuse me' is the most famous imperative use, serving as a polite way to interrupt or move past someone.

Can you excuse me for a moment? I need to take this urgent phone call.

In formal writing, 'excuse' can also be used to mean 'to justify.' For instance, 'Nothing can excuse such rude behavior.' In this sense, the word is used to say that no reason is good enough to make the behavior acceptable. This is a higher-level usage often found in essays or debates. When you use 'excuse' this way, you are evaluating the validity of a reason. It is also important to distinguish between 'excusing' a person and 'excusing' a thing. You excuse a person from a duty, but you might excuse a debt (meaning you cancel it). The versatility of 'excuse' allows it to function in high-stakes legal environments and low-stakes dinner table conversations alike. To use it effectively, always identify who has the authority to grant the excuse and what specific obligation is being waived. This clarity ensures that your request or statement is understood as a formal or polite appeal for flexibility.

The board decided to excuse the CEO from the hearing due to health concerns.

Reflexive Use
'Excuse yourself' means to politely ask to leave. 'He excused himself from the table.'

You will encounter the verb excuse in a wide variety of environments, ranging from the highly structured to the completely casual. In schools, it is perhaps the most common verb used regarding attendance. Students bring 'excuse notes' (noun) so that teachers will 'excuse' (verb) their absences. You'll hear: 'Was your absence excused?' or 'The principal excused the seniors from the final assembly.' This usage is vital for academic record-keeping. In the workplace, the verb is used during meetings and project planning. A manager might say, 'I'll excuse you from this project so you can focus on the client pitch.' It signals a strategic reallocation of resources and time. In legal settings, specifically during jury selection (voir dire), the judge or lawyers will 'excuse' potential jurors who have biases or personal conflicts. This is a formal, procedural use of the word that carries significant legal weight.

In the Courtroom
'The juror was excused for cause after revealing he was related to the defendant.'
In the Household
'May I be excused?' is a traditional phrase children use to ask to leave the dinner table.

The judge will excuse the witness once their testimony is complete.

Socially, 'excuse' is the lubricant of polite society. You hear it in crowded subways ('Excuse me, I'm getting off here'), in restaurants ('Excuse me, could we have the check?'), and in awkward social situations ('Please excuse the mess; we just moved in'). In these contexts, the verb is often shortened or used as a formulaic expression, but its underlying meaning—asking for a release from social friction—remains. In literature and film, 'excuse' is often used in dialogue to show character dynamics. A powerful character might refuse to excuse a subordinate's failure, highlighting their ruthlessness. Conversely, a kind character might excuse a major mistake, showing their capacity for mercy. Whether it's a formal letter from a doctor or a quick word in a hallway, 'excuse' is the standard way English speakers negotiate the space between rules and reality. It is a word of permission, politeness, and pragmatism.

The flight attendant excused the passengers from wearing masks once the plane reached a certain altitude under the old regulations.

One of the most frequent errors learners make with excuse is confusing it with the verb 'forgive.' While they are related, they are not always interchangeable. You 'excuse' someone from a duty or for a minor social error, but you 'forgive' someone for a deep personal hurt or a moral wrongdoing. For example, you wouldn't say 'I excuse you for breaking my heart'; you would say 'I forgive you.' Conversely, you wouldn't say 'The teacher forgave me from the test'; you would say 'The teacher excused me from the test.' Another common mistake involves the pronunciation. As mentioned, the verb ends in a /z/ sound. Using the /s/ sound makes it a noun, which can lead to confusion in spoken English. For instance, saying 'I have an excuse' (/s/) is very different from 'I want to excuse' (/z/).

Preposition Errors
Using 'to' instead of 'from'. Incorrect: 'Excuse me to the class.' Correct: 'Excuse me from the class.'
Confusion with 'Pardon'
'Pardon' is much more formal and usually relates to legal crimes or hearing someone. 'Excuse' is for daily duties.

Incorrect: He excused for his mistake. Correct: He excused himself for his mistake (or) He was excused for his mistake.

Learners also struggle with the reflexive use of the verb. If you want to leave a room, you must 'excuse yourself.' Simply saying 'I will excuse' is grammatically incomplete because 'excuse' is a transitive verb—it needs an object. You must excuse *someone*. If that someone is you, use 'myself.' Additionally, there is the 'Excuse me' vs. 'I'm sorry' distinction. Use 'Excuse me' *before* you do something (like interrupting or passing by) and 'I'm sorry' *after* you have done something (like stepping on someone's foot). While 'Excuse me' can sometimes be used after a small slip (like a sneeze), 'I'm sorry' is generally for when you feel regret. Mastering these subtle distinctions will make your English sound much more natural and socially aware. Finally, avoid overusing 'excuse' in formal writing when 'exempt' or 'justify' might be more precise. 'Excuse' is versatile, but sometimes a more specific word carries more weight.

To truly understand excuse, it helps to compare it to its synonyms, each of which has a slightly different 'flavor.' The word exempt is perhaps the closest synonym when dealing with duties. However, 'exempt' is much more formal and often implies a legal or official status. For example, 'The charity is exempt from taxes.' You wouldn't usually say the charity is 'excused' from taxes, as 'excuse' implies a more temporary or personal permission. Another similar word is pardon. While 'pardon' can be a synonym for 'excuse me' in social settings, its primary meaning is the official forgiveness of a crime by a high-ranking official like a president. It carries a much heavier weight than 'excuse.' Forgive, as discussed, focuses on the emotional release of resentment, whereas 'excuse' focuses on the removal of a requirement or blame for a minor lapse.

Exempt
To free from an obligation that others have. Usually formal/legal.
Justify
To show or prove to be right or reasonable. Focuses on the 'why'.
Absolve
To set free from blame, guilt, or responsibility. Very formal/religious.

While the teacher might excuse a late paper, they won't exempt you from the entire curriculum.

Other words like overlook and condone are also related. To 'overlook' a mistake is to choose not to notice it or punish it, often out of kindness. To 'condone' something is to accept or allow behavior that is considered wrong. These are different from 'excusing' because 'excusing' usually involves a valid reason, whereas 'overlooking' or 'condoning' might happen even without a good reason. In the context of leaving a place, withdraw or depart are more formal alternatives to 'excusing oneself.' Understanding these synonyms allows you to choose the word that fits the level of formality and the specific type of 'release' you are describing. 'Excuse' remains the most versatile and common choice for everyday situations involving permission and minor social navigation. It is the 'middle ground' word—not too formal, not too casual, and applicable in dozens of scenarios.

How Formal Is It?

Guide de prononciation

Rime avec
amuse, confuse, refuse

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Gerunds after 'for'

Passive voice construction

Reflexive pronouns

Prepositional phrases

Imperative mood

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Exemples par niveau

1

Excuse me, where is the station?

Excusez-moi, où est la gare ?

Used to get attention.

2

Excuse me, what is your name?

Excusez-moi, quel est votre nom ?

Polite introduction.

3

Excuse me, can you help me?

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m'aider ?

Asking for assistance.

4

Excuse me, I am sorry.

Excusez-moi, je suis désolé.

Polite apology.

5

Excuse me, is this seat free?

Excusez-moi, cette place est-elle libre ?

Asking permission.

6

Excuse me, how much is this?

Excusez-moi, combien ça coûte ?

Inquiry in a shop.

7

Excuse me, I need to go.

Excusez-moi, je dois y aller.

Polite departure.

8

Excuse me, please repeat that.

Excusez-moi, s'il vous plaît, répétez.

Asking for repetition.

1

The teacher will excuse you from class.

Le professeur vous dispensera de cours.

Verb 'excuse' + person + 'from' + activity.

2

Please excuse my late homework.

Veuillez excuser mon devoir en retard.

Asking for understanding for a mistake.

3

May I be excused from the table?

Puis-je quitter la table ?

Passive form for polite request.

4

She excused him because he was tired.

Elle l'a excusé parce qu'il était fatigué.

Past tense 'excused'.

5

Can you excuse me for a minute?

Pouvez-vous m'excuser une minute ?

Asking to leave briefly.

6

The doctor excused her from work.

Le médecin l'a dispensée de travail.

Official release from duty.

7

Please excuse the noise outside.

Veuillez excuser le bruit dehors.

Asking to ignore a nuisance.

8

I was excused from the test.

J'ai été dispensé du test.

Passive voice 'was excused'.

1

He excused himself from the meeting to call his wife.

Il s'est excusé de la réunion pour appeler sa femme.

Reflexive 'excused himself'.

2

Please excuse the delay in our reply.

Veuillez nous excuser pour le retard de notre réponse.

Formal business apology.

3

I hope you will excuse my messy house.

J'espère que vous excuserez ma maison en désordre.

Social 'excuse' for a situation.

4

The manager excused the team from the extra shift.

Le manager a dispensé l'équipe de l'équipe supplémentaire.

Professional release from duty.

5

Nothing can excuse his rude behavior.

Rien ne peut excuser son comportement impoli.

Using 'excuse' to mean 'justify'.

6

She was excused from jury duty.

Elle a été dispensée de son devoir de juré.

Formal/legal context.

7

Excuse me for interrupting, but there is a phone call for you.

Excusez-moi de vous interrompre, mais il y a un appel pour vous.

'Excuse' + person + 'for' + gerund.

8

We should excuse her; she's had a very long day.

Nous devrions l'excuser ; elle a eu une très longue journée.

Asking for empathy/forgiveness.

1

His illness excused him from taking the final exams.

Sa maladie l'a dispensé de passer les examens finaux.

The cause acts as the subject.

2

The court will excuse any juror with a conflict of interest.

Le tribunal récusera tout juré ayant un conflit d'intérêts.

Legal terminology.

3

You must excuse my ignorance on this specific topic.

Vous devez excuser mon ignorance sur ce sujet précis.

Formal admission of lack of knowledge.

4

The bank agreed to excuse the interest on the loan.

La banque a accepté de faire grâce des intérêts du prêt.

Financial context: to waive/cancel.

5

He tried to excuse his failure by blaming the weather.

Il a essayé d'excuser son échec en rejetant la faute sur la météo.

Attempting to justify a failure.

6

I'm sure the host will excuse us if we leave early.

Je suis sûr que l'hôte nous excusera si nous partons tôt.

Social expectation and permission.

7

Being busy is no reason to excuse such a lack of detail.

Être occupé n'est pas une raison pour excuser un tel manque de détails.

Argumentative/evaluative use.

8

She felt she had to excuse her friend's behavior to the guests.

Elle a senti qu'elle devait excuser le comportement de son ami auprès des invités.

Social mediation.

1

The treaty excuses certain nations from the carbon tax.

Le traité dispense certaines nations de la taxe carbone.

Political/Legal exemption.

2

One cannot easily excuse the ethical lapses of the previous administration.

On ne peut pas facilement excuser les manquements éthiques de l'administration précédente.

Formal academic/political critique.

3

He was excused from the ceremony due to his religious beliefs.

Il a été dispensé de la cérémonie en raison de ses convictions religieuses.

Nuanced social/legal release.

4

The complexity of the situation might excuse a certain level of confusion.

La complexité de la situation pourrait excuser un certain niveau de confusion.

Abstract justification.

5

She excused herself from the debate, citing a lack of preparation.

Elle s'est retirée du débat, invoquant un manque de préparation.

Reflexive use in a formal context.

6

The law excuses those who act in self-defense from criminal liability.

La loi exonère de toute responsabilité pénale ceux qui agissent en état de légitime défense.

Legal absolution.

7

It is difficult to excuse the blatant disregard for safety protocols.

Il est difficile d'excuser le mépris flagrant des protocoles de sécurité.

Strong moral judgment.

8

The professor excused the student's unconventional methods because they worked.

Le professeur a excusé les méthodes non conventionnelles de l'étudiant parce qu'elles fonctionnaient.

Pragmatic permission.

1

The philosophical argument posits that determinism might excuse all human error.

L'argument philosophique pose que le déterminisme pourrait excuser toute erreur humaine.

Highly abstract/theoretical use.

2

The sovereign has the power to excuse any subject from their feudal obligations.

Le souverain a le pouvoir de dispenser tout sujet de ses obligations féodales.

Historical/Archaic context.

3

To excuse such a heinous crime would be a travesty of justice.

Excuser un crime aussi odieux serait une parodie de justice.

Extreme moral/legal evaluation.

4

The sheer scale of the disaster excuses the initial slow response from the authorities.

L'ampleur même de la catastrophe excuse la lenteur initiale de la réaction des autorités.

Contextual justification of failure.

5

He sought to excuse his existential dread through the pursuit of art.

Il cherchait à excuser son angoisse existentielle par la poursuite de l'art.

Metaphorical/Literary use.

6

The nuances of the contract excuse the company from liability in cases of 'force majeure'.

Les nuances du contrat exonèrent l'entreprise de toute responsabilité en cas de force majeure.

Precise legal exemption.

7

One might excuse her cynicism given the hardships she has endured.

On pourrait excuser son cynisme compte tenu des épreuves qu'elle a endurées.

Psychological empathy.

8

The judge's decision to excuse the witness was met with significant public outcry.

La décision du juge de récuser le témoin a suscité une vive émotion dans le public.

Complex social/legal interaction.

Collocations courantes

excuse someone from class
excuse a debt
excuse the mess
excuse the delay
excuse oneself from a meeting
be excused from jury duty
excuse a mistake
excuse someone for being late
hard to excuse
officially excuse

Phrases Courantes

Excuse me?
Please excuse the interruption.
May I be excused?
Excuse my reach.
Excuse the appearance of...
Excuse someone's absence.
Excuse me for a moment.
Excuse me, coming through!
Excuse me, do you have the time?
Excuse me, I didn't see you there.

Souvent confondu avec

excuse vs forgive

excuse vs pardon

excuse vs exempt

Expressions idiomatiques

"Excuse my French"
"Excuse me for living"
"A poor excuse for"
"No excuse for"
"Excuse the dust"
"Excuse the pun"
"Excuse me while I kiss the sky"
"Excuse one's ignorance"
"Excuse the mess"
"Excuse me for asking"

Facile à confondre

excuse vs

excuse vs

excuse vs

excuse vs

excuse vs

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

note 1

Verb vs Noun pronunciation is key.

note 2

Don't confuse with 'forgive' for serious matters.

Erreurs courantes
  • Saying 'I excuse' instead of 'Excuse me'.
  • Using 'forgive' for being late to a meeting.
  • Pronouncing the verb with an 's' sound.
  • Forgetting the 'from' in 'excuse from duty'.
  • Using 'excuse' when 'exempt' (for taxes) is more accurate.

Astuces

Polite Interruptions

Always use 'Excuse me' before interrupting someone's conversation or work. It shows respect for their time.

The 'From' Rule

When you are talking about a task or a place, always use 'from'. 'Excuse me from the meeting' is the standard.

The Z Sound

Make sure the end of the word sounds like a bee buzzing. This distinguishes the verb from the noun.

Email Etiquette

Use 'Please excuse the delay' as a standard opening if you are late replying to an important email.

Table Manners

In formal dinners, always ask to be excused before leaving the table, even if you are just going to the restroom.

Exempt vs Excuse

Use 'exempt' for laws and taxes. Use 'excuse' for personal duties like chores or classes.

Avoid Overuse

In academic writing, try 'justify' or 'mitigate' if you find yourself using 'excuse' too often.

Sarcasm Check

If someone says 'Excuse ME!' with a very sharp tone, they are likely offended, not asking for permission.

Reflexive Power

Using 'I must excuse myself' sounds very professional and decisive in a business setting.

The Note Trick

Associate 'excuse' with a 'note'. A doctor's note 'excuses' you. This links the verb to the action.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

EX-CUSE: Think of 'EXiting' a 'CUSE' (cause/duty). You are out of the requirement!

Origine du mot

Latin

Contexte culturel

Variable

High

Very High

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"Excuse me, do you know how to get to the park?"

"Would you excuse me for a second? I need to check something."

"Do you think the boss will excuse us from the Friday meeting?"

"Please excuse my voice; I have a bit of a cold."

"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a time you were excused from a difficult task.

Is there a behavior you find impossible to excuse?

Describe a situation where you had to excuse yourself early.

How do you feel when someone doesn't excuse your mistake?

Write a formal letter asking to be excused from a commitment.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Not exactly. 'Excuse me' is usually for minor things or before an action. 'I'm sorry' is for regret after an action.

No, 'excuse' is followed directly by the person. Say 'Excuse me'.

It means the person who lent the money says you don't have to pay it back.

The most polite way is to say, 'May I be excused?'

Usually, 'pardon' or 'absolve' is used for serious crimes. 'Excuse' is for smaller things.

No, it's an idiom used when you accidentally use a swear word in English.

It is an absence from school or work that the boss or teacher has accepted as okay.

Yes, it is a polite way to leave a talk that you no longer want to be part of.

It can be both. 'Excuse me' is daily, but 'excusing a juror' is very formal.

To 'compel' (force someone to do a duty) or to 'blame' (not forgive a mistake).

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