pardon

Universal Words exclamation, noun, verb exclamation 1 (also pardon me especially in AmE) used to ask sb to repeat sth because you did not hear it or did not understand it: 'You're very quiet today.' 'Pardon?' 'I said you're very quiet today.' 2 (also pardon me) used by some people to say 'sorry' when they have accidentally made a rude noise, or said or done sth wrong noun 1 (also BrE, law free pardon) [C] an official decision not to punish sb for a crime, or to say that sb is not guilty of a crime: to ask / grant / receive a pardon * a royal / presidential pardon * (AmE) The Pardon Board has no power to stop execution. 2 [U] (formal) ~ (for sth) the action of forgiving sb for sth: He asked her pardon for having deceived her. IDIOMS see BEG verb (not usually used in the progressive tenses) 1 [VN] to officially allow sb who has been found guilty of a crime to leave prison and/or avoid punishment: She was pardoned after serving ten years of a life sentence. 2 ~ sb (for sth / for doing sth) to forgive sb for sth they have said or done (used in many expressions when you want to be polite) SYNEXCUSE: [VN] Pardon my ignorance, but what is a 'duplex'? * The place was, if you'll pardon the expression, a dump. * (BrE) You could be pardoned for thinking (= it is easy to understand why people think) that education is not the government's priority. * Pardon me for interrupting you. * [VN-ing] Pardon my asking, but is that your husband? [also VNN] IDIOMS pardon me (spoken) 1 (especially AmE) used to ask sb to repeat sth because you did not hear it or do not understand it 2 used by some people to say 'sorry' when they have accidentally made a rude noise or done sth wrong seealsoIBEGYOURPARDON pardon me for doing sth used to show that you are upset or offended by the way that sb has spoken to you: 'Oh, just shut up!' 'Well, pardon me for breathing!'