ways to say excuse me

How to Say Excuse Me in a Meeting (30 Examples)

Browse 30 ways to say excuse me in a meeting. Each one comes with a quick usage note. Copy any of them in one tap.

30 alternativesOtherIn A Meeting

Ways to Say Excuse Me In A Meeting

Bookmark this page. The next time you need to say "excuse me" without sounding like everyone else, you will have 30 original alternatives waiting instead of a blank screen.

Whether you are writing an email, sending a text, or speaking face to face, having several ways to say "excuse me" keeps your communication fresh. Each alternative below comes with a quick note on when it works best.

Choosing the right way to say "excuse me" depends on who you are talking to and where. The options below range from safe and polished to warm and personal, so you can match your words to the moment.

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1
Excuse me, do you have a map? I keep getting lost in your eyes.
Lost-in-eyes; romantic cliche.
2
Pardon me, just squeezing past.
Squeezing-past; physical.
3
Excuse me, awkward shuffle incoming.
Awkward-shuffle; honest.
4
Prithee, excuse my intrusion.
Prithee; archaic charm.
5
Excuse me, you dropped something: my jaw.
Dropped-my-jaw; clever.
6
Excuse me, is this where I line up to admire you?
Line-up-to-admire; bold.
7
I beg your pardon.
Beg-your-pardon; classic.
8
Pardon me, but you've been running through my mind all day.
Running-through-mind; flattering.
9
Scuse me, scuse me, tiny human passing through.
Tiny-human; cute.
10
Sorry to interrupt — you caught my eye from across the room.
Classic approach.
11
Pardon the interruption, this will only take a second.
Brief-interruption apology.
12
Oops, excuse me — I move without warning.
Move-without-warning; silly.
13
Pardon me, grace is not my strong suit.
Clumsy humor.
14
Sorry to interrupt, but wow.
Interrupting-to-say-wow; direct.
15
Excuse me, is this seat taken?
Is-seat-taken; practical.
16
Sorry, could I get by, please?
Get-by-please; spatial.
17
Sorry, but I had to come say hi. Excuse my bravery.
Brave-approach; charming.
18
A thousand pardons, good friend.
Dramatic apology.
19
Excuse me, just a moment please.
Courteous pause.
20
Pardon me, may I have a moment of your time?
Polite meeting interruption.
21
Excuse me, sorry to bother you.
Sorry-to-bother; considerate.
22
Pardon me for interrupting.
Pardon-interrupting; formal-lite.
23
Excuse me, did it hurt when you fell from heaven?
Classic cheesy pickup line.
24
A thousand pardons for the disturbance.
Thousand-pardons; dramatic.
25
Excuse me, do you have a moment?
Do-you-have-a-moment; time.
26
Coming through! Pretend I am invisible.
Playful sneaking.
27
Pardon me. I swear I'm usually more graceful.
Usually-more-graceful; hopeful.
28
Sorry to interrupt — may I come in?
May-I-come-in; respectful.
29
Pardon me, my body got here before my manners.
Body-before-manners; clumsy charm.
30
Pardon me, I just needed an excuse to say hi.
Honest motive.
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How to Choose the Right Alternative

  1. For texts, shorter is almost always better. Trim any alternative that takes more than one breath to say.
  2. Adjust one word to make it yours: swap a name, a detail, or a reference only the two of you share.
  3. Read the alternative out loud before sending. If it sounds like something you would actually say, it is ready.
  4. In emails, pair a formal opening alternative with a warm closing one to sound polished but human.
  5. Do not stack two formal phrases back to back. One polished line plus plain language reads better.

More Ways to Say Excuse Me

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most professional way to say "Excuse Me"?

Look at the professional alternatives on this page: they use complete sentences, courteous wording, and no slang, which makes them ideal for emails to managers, clients, and colleagues.

Can I use these phrases in a text message?

Yes. Every alternative is short enough for a text, and each one has a copy button so you can paste it straight into WhatsApp, iMessage, or any other app.

How many ways to say "Excuse Me" are on this page?

This collection contains 30 unique alternatives, each with a quick usage note so you know exactly when it fits best.

Is it okay to use a funny alternative at work?

It depends on your workplace culture. With close teammates, a light-hearted option is usually fine. With clients or senior leaders, stick to the professional or polite alternatives on this page.

How do I say "Excuse Me" in a formal email?

Choose one of the formal options above, address the person by name, and keep the rest of your message in the same register. One formal phrase works best when the sentences around it stay clean and simple.

What can I say instead of "Excuse Me"?

This page lists 30 alternatives to "Excuse Me". Pick the one that matches your situation: professional for work emails, polite for everyday courtesy, funny for friends, or flirty for someone special.

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