Why do we say excuse me when we sneeze?

[Anonymous]

DO you say excuse me when you sneeze? and why do we say excuse me when we sneeze?

[kaylaS91]

I say both excuse me when I sneeze as well as bless you when someone else sneezes. The reason why we say 'bless you' when someone sneezes is from the time when the 'black death' came to North America. At that time, there was a plague of the flu going around. If someone were to sneeze, they most likely had contracted the flu and because it was nearly impossible to cure them of this successfully, someone would say 'bless you' following the sneeze due to them having high chances of death from this influenza virus. The reasons why we say 'excuse me' would be similar, though more excusing yourself from potentially spreading the virus.

[palek]

This answer is correct.

[TheTroubledBeauty]

It has been around since the beginning. Most likely the basic idea behind it was to wish good health to the person who had sneezed, since sneezing can be a sign that a person is sick. Many people also think that when saying excuse me/bless you is because when you sneeze your heart stops for a second and the bless you part is to bless the person to live after sneezing. Hoped this helped. :)

[Anonymous]

I say excuse me because I just made a loud noise that came with germs and possibly disturbed the silence or someone working/talking, haha!
Just like when people say excuse me when they burp... it's just polite.

[Rocco-K]

Some people say excuse me because when you sneeze the loud forceful noise from the sneeze can be quite loud and startle people. In addition when you sneeze all kinds of germs and tiny droplets of you are getting expelled into the air.

[JohnnyBananas]

It's more of a courtesy thing I believe. When someone sneezes, it can interrupt someone else and something that they were doing like someone who is studying, a boss who is doing a presentation, a family dinner, etc.

[TheoryOfAvarice]

I only say excuse me if I think my sneeze interrupted someone who was talking or if the people around me are trying to listen to something (music, church sermon, lecture etc.)

I've seen some people excuse themselves every time they sneeze no matter what... it seems a bit unnecessary but whatever, I suppose they're just trying to be polite or keep up good manners.

[questioner1991]

Because you are blowing germs even if it is just blowing them on your arm, tissue, or hand.

[Anonymous]

Most people say "bless you/me" instead... is that what you meant?

[Asker]

no I meant excuse me

[JohnnyBananas]

People say excuse me. I do it too.

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah, I do as well. I just thought the other way made more sense to ask about, since "excuse me" is just apologizing for a bodily function.

[Anonymous]

i dont say anything