Sorry to interrupt, but…
Neutral Polite
What it really means
The polite British way to break into a conversation or meeting. Say it, pause briefly, then make your point short. Interrupting without a softener like this can come across as rude.
Chinese explanation
英式插话的礼貌方式：说这句，稍作停顿，然后简短说完你的事。不加这类缓冲语直接打断，会显得没礼貌。
Example conversation
A: Sorry to interrupt, but your taxi's outside.
B: Oh! Thanks for letting me know.
A：抱歉打断一下，你叫的出租车到门口了。
B：哦！谢谢提醒。
All Politeness Decoder
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake