Apology

expect an apology

We weren’t looking for any compensation for the delay, but we did at least expect an apology.

owe an apology

Don’t you think owe your mother an apology for the way you behaved at Jo’s wedding?

give an apology

I’m really sorry we can’t come to dinner on Saturday. Something really serious has come up. Please give our apologies to your wife.

demand an apology

My wife was so angry with the way she had been treated that she marched up to the manager and demanded an apology for the bad service.

make an apology

I have an apology to make. I’m afraid I think I’ve just broken that pen you lent me.

offer an apology

What more can I do? I offered her an apology for my appalling behavior at the party, but she wouldn’t accept it.

sincere apology

Please accept our sincere apologies for the error in your flight booking.

full apology

The newspaper was forced to publish a full and detailed apology to the pop star for making untrue allegations about his personal life.

formal apology

The Minister had stood up in Parliament and made a formal apology for his unfortunate remarks on immigration.

belated apology

I’m just emailing you to apologize for not turning up for last week’s meeting. I was abroad and didn’t hear about it – so belated apologies.

heartfelt apology

Look, it was a mistake. Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

profound apology

The hospital wrote to me personally with a profound apology for their mistake.

public apology

When a politician makes a mistake, they really ought to make a public apology.

abject apology

Even the most abject apology isn’t enough when you are caught stealing from a colleague!

a formal letter of apology

Following our complaint about our hotel room, we received a formal letter of apology from the management and a voucher for a free weekend for two!

full of apologies

As usual, Andy was full of apologies for what he had done. But I know his apologies mean absolutely nothing!

a way of an apology

He sent me some chocolate as a way of an apology. He obviously finds it difficult to apologize face to face.

a few words of apology

After I told him I didn’t want to marry him, he muttered a few words of apology and left the room. I felt so sorry for him that I almost changed my mind!

Notes   

Note the following idiom:

• Getting an apology out of my friend is like getting blood from a stone!

We send apologies when we can’t come to a meeting. For example:

• The headmaster has sent his apologies. He’s had to go to London.

Look at this example:

• I make no apologies for what I said to her. She deserved every word!
• You say this when you feel strongly that you were right to do or say what you did. You feel that no apology is necessary.