JOY
under which circumstance can I use " excuse you"? I f someone bumps into me and doesn't say "sorry", can I say something like "excuse you"? Or under which circumstance can I use "excuse you"? Thanks for your help.
Sep 30, 2014 12:55 PM
Answers · 4
3
No, you wouldn't use 'excuse you' then. The situation might escalate into a fight, if you did .... The only time I've ever heard it used is in a jokey way, if someone burps or makes another kind of rude noise (!), then a friend or family member might say 'excuse you!', and then you'd both laugh.
September 30, 2014
2
Yes, you could, but it might be considered rude. "Excuse you," is a phrase that has a negative connotation. It's almost always said in a negative tone.
September 30, 2014
1
I pretty much agree with everything that's been said already except that Logan made a small but important mistake. If someone bumps into you and doesn't say "Excuse me" and you say "Excuse you", that's the same as saying "hey, how about saying excuse me" If you bump into someone and say "Excuse you", that's either very aggressive or friendly joking around and you better be sure you know how it will be taken. So, for example, I can imagine a school bully deliberately bumping into another kid, causing him to spill his lunch and then saying "Excuse you". Obviously, this is very aggressive. On the other hand, you could be at a party and see a good friend and deliberately bump into him (or her) and say "Well, excuse you!". Now, that's friendly (or at least you hope your friend will take it that way). So... be careful how you use the phrase.
September 30, 2014
1
To clarify what the ladies have already told you, "excuse you" is said as a reminder for someone who should have said "excuse me" in the first place. If you bump into someone and say it, that's the same as saying "hey, how about saying excuse me" and in Su.Ki's burping example it's a fun way to say "geeez!" or "whoa, man, that was nasty" :)
September 30, 2014
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