"Pardon my French" or "Excuse my French" is a common English language phrase ostensibly disguising profanity as words from the French language. The phrase is uttered in an attempt to excuse the user of profanity, swearing, or curses in the presence of those offended by it, under the pretense of the words being part of a foreign language. Although the phrase is often used without any explicit or implicit intention of insulting the French people or language, it can nevertheless be perceived as offensive and belittling by Francophone speakers. However, most users of the term intend no such belittlement, but rather a light-hearted way of apologizing on-the-fly for having used a somewhat profane comment. In other words, it can be used as a very effective oral English device to indicate that the speaker does not intend to escalate the general level of profanity use.
Usage
At least one source suggests that the phrase "derives from a literal usage of the exclamation. In the 19th century, when English people used French expressions in conversation they often apologized for it – presumably because many of their listeners wouldn't be familiar with the language". The definition cites an example from The Lady's Magazine, 1830: The phrase has been used in broadcast television and family films where less offensive words are preceded by "pardon my French" to intensify their effect without violatingcensorship or rating guidelines. A good example is in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Cameron calls Mr. Rooney and says, "Pardon my French, but you're an asshole".
Related expressions
Incidentally, several expressions are used by both the English and the French to describe the same culturally unacceptable habit, but attributing the habit to the other people:
"to take a French leave" is referenced in French as filer à l'anglaise.
"French letter" is rendered in French as capote anglaise.
During the 16th century in England, genital herpes was called the "French disease" and "French-sick" was a term for syphilis, while in France, it was called le Mal de Naples, after the syphilis outbreak in 1494/1495 while French troops were besieging Naples.
