Our conversation about the phrase I beg your pardon reminded Patricia in Greenville, North Carolina, of a playground taunt from her childhood. If one kid said I beg your pardon, another would respond I grant your grace, I hope the cat will spit in your face. Another version of this ditty ends with I hope the cat will scratch your face. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Callous Kids Call for Feline Fearmongering”
We had a conversation not long ago about the expression, I beg your pardon, and that prompted a memory for Patricia from Greenville, North Carolina. She said that when she was growing up on the playground, the kids would use this expression back and forth. And she said sometimes one kid would say, I beg your pardon, their voice dripping with sarcasm. And the other kids would respond and say, I grant your grace. I hope the cat will spit in your face.
Oh, I’ve never heard this. This is wonderful. Where was she when she was a kid?
Well, she was in Greenville, North Carolina. And I did a little bit of digging. And that’s not the only version of it. Another one goes, I beg your pardon. I grant you grace. I hope the cat will ill scratch your face.
Yeah.
That sounds just like kids, doesn’t it?
Doesn’t it?
Back and forth.
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Share them with us.
