To have told SIL "no...NOT Pardon!"?

[MrsMushroom]

We're abroad with DHs family.

DD aged 4 didn't hear something SIL said.....DD said "What?" and SIL said "WHAT? WHAT??? I think you mean PARDON don't you?"

I HAD to say..."No...in England "what" is fine. Or If you prefer..."sorry, I didn't catch that."

Was I rude? I just don't want DD saying "Pardon" or even worse "P'don"

Oh and Merry Christmas everyone!

Thinking about it, I would expect MN to judge "Pardon" passive aggressive [ducks]

Is it a bone china heirloom plate Catgirl?

Totes..........it's my vintage Sevres Kebab plate

Is that posh though catgirl these things so often turn out to work in reverse, it may be posher to eat it with your fingers out of an old copy of 'The Fox and Hounds'... (does that still exist, did it ever exist, maybe I made it up?)

Horse and Hound? That's still going

But you are right.....perhaps a kebab needs to be eaten in a traditional Turkish style and my plate is trying too hard

Oh it's all so bloody complex

Ah, thank you catgirl Horse and Hound does make more sense as a periodical Fox and Hound must be a pub

mmmmmmmmm pub

Is it to early to start drinking?

Baileys is practically milk and Bucks Fizz is one of your 5 a day right?

Absolutely :) I finished the Baileys yesterday here though :( We have Glühwein...

Never say PARDON!

NEVER!

What?

There must be a context for pardon though Orphelia - for example when one grants a Royal one, just not when one has misheard...

Pardon is indeed worse than fuck.

What about if you are French?

Ah thank you Catgirl - now should one say "Cheers" or "Bottoms Up" ... I'll say Prost! Happy Christmas, have to get ready to go to the in-laws now...

What just makes me think of Kevin and perry
'Whattt'
I'm a sorry? Or pardon?

It should be 'Excuse me?'

Aaaah - this old chestnut. 'Tis the thing that divides the posh from those who merely think they are.

I was brung up my a very aspirational lower middle class mother who gets so many things wrong it makes me cringe, and I was brought up to say 'pardon.'

But so many people genuinely do think that 'what?' is rude that I switch back and forth from 'what?' to 'pardon?' depending on who I am with. Which is always a good philosophy to apply to anything, I find. When in Rome and all that.

If I am not quite sure where I stand I will say 'sorry?' or 'I beg your pardon?' just to be on the safe side.

Interestingly as jude pointed out, the people who say 'what?' with impunity are either UC or WC, and they are always the best people to be because they don't give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks.

We're talking about a 4 year old yes?
Goodness me.
What or pardon, either works for me as long as the tone is not rude.
For me, the real problem is ppl's insistence on correcting other ppl's children over petty matters.
Hope you're having a lovely Christmas.

Sorry - dragging out the Betjeman

How To Get On In Society by John Betjeman
Phone for the fish knives, Norman
As cook is a little unnerved;
You kiddies have crumpled the serviettes
And I must have things daintily served.

Are the requisites all in the toilet?
The frills round the cutlets can wait
Till the girl has replenished the cruets
And switched on the logs in the grate.

It's ever so close in the lounge dear,
But the vestibule's comfy for tea
And Howard is riding on horseback
So do come and take some with me

Now here is a fork for your pastries
And do use the couch for your feet;
I know that I wanted to ask you-
Is trifle sufficient for sweet?

Milk and then just as it comes dear?
I'm afraid the preserve's full of stones;
Beg pardon, I'm soiling the doileys
With afternoon tea-cakes and scones.

I don't think 'pardon' is PA but I do think 'I beg your pardon' can be very PA. but it's all in the tone.

Bucks fizz is indeed one of your five a day. We have had bucks fizz and bellinis so we are very healthy over here.

Jilly cooper said pardon is a much worse word than fuck.
A friend says pardon only if she is insulted by the question.
My dh says pardon but he is foreign:)
I say what? Dc aren't listening anyway or in ds case ignore what you said and answer the question he wanted to answer. He is a politician in the making. He is very hard work.

When I tell mater she's dragged me up common by making me say 'pardon' she'll be mortified. I was always told 'what?' is rude.

What is rude, pardon or sorry are fine.