The Revolution Will Be TikTokked

Why do we say “pardon my French” when we swear? Some say the expression comes from the time when our ruling class spoke French. A lofty Norman, snooty Plantagenet or indeed a shrugging Angevin would lapse into French mid-conversation, then kittenishly apologise for being oh so helplessly de sang bleu. Common islanders would retort with a homegrown profanity – something about hounds’ arses – then mockingly return, “pardon my French”.