I'm sorry, but I'll be out of town on the day of your party. I'll have to beg off on your invitation.
•I have an important meeting, so I'll have to beg off.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
beg off — verb ask for permission to be released from an engagement • Syn: ↑excuse • Derivationally related forms: ↑excuse (for: ↑excuse) • Hypernyms: ↑request, ↑bespeak, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
beg off — verb Date: 1827 intransitive verb to ask to be excused from something transitive verb to ask or gain permission to be excused from < begged off attending the party > • beg off noun … New Collegiate Dictionary
beg off phrasal — verb (I) to say that you cannot do something that you had agreed to do: I m sorry, but I m going to have to beg off from the game tonight … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
beg off — to excuse yourself from something. I had the chance to spend the day at the beach, but I begged off, saying I had too much work on my desk … New idioms dictionary
beg — [ beg ] verb ** 1. ) intransitive or transitive to ask for help, an opportunity, etc. in a way that shows you want it very much: Don t go! he begged. beg someone (not) to do something: She had written a letter begging him to come back. We begged… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
beg — [beg] vt. begged, begging [ME beggen < Anglo Fr begger < begart < OFr begard, religious mendicant < MDu beggaert] 1. to ask for as charity or as a gift [he begged a dime] 2. to ask for earnestly as a kindness or favor vi. 1. to ask… … English World dictionary
beg — ► VERB (begged, begging) 1) ask earnestly or humbly for something. 2) ask for food or money as charity. 3) (of a dog) sit up with the front paws raised in the hope of a reward. ● beg off Cf. ↑beg off … English terms dictionary
beg — [c]/bɛg / (say beg) verb (begged, begging) –verb (t) 1. to ask for in charity; ask as alms. 2. to ask for, or of, with humility or earnestness, or as a favour: to beg forgiveness; to beg him to forgive me. 3. to assume or demand permission (to… …
beg — beg1 /beg/, v., begged, begging. v.t. 1. to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: to beg alms; to beg forgiveness. 2. to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore: He begged me for mercy. Sit down, I beg you. 3. to take for granted… … Universalium
beg — verb (begs, begging, begged) 1》 ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something. ↘ask for (something) earnestly or humbly: he begged their forgiveness. ↘(beg off) withdraw from a promise or undertaking. 2》 ask for food or money as charity … English new terms dictionary
beg — v. (begged, begging) 1 a intr. (usu. foll. by for) ask for (esp. food, money, etc.) (begged for alms). b tr. ask for (food, money, etc.) as a gift. c intr. live by begging. 2 tr. & intr. (usu. foll. by for, or to + infin.) ask earnestly or humbly … Useful english dictionary
