Start here for a quick overview of the site Detailed answers to any questions you might have does not mean anything reflexive, but just that the "I" is stressed.

If my wife calls while I am at the party, I will excuse myself, step outside, and answer her call. or "excuse yourself!"

It's a way of expressing that you enjoy their company.

Anybody can answer @Dolda2000 No, it is not reflexive, it is transitive. The phrase " to excuse oneself" refers to the act of saying "Excuse me" and leaving. Instead of bothering the people around you, for example if they are busy and you don't want to interrupt, you excuse yourself and leave without saying anything.For 'excuse yourself', this would generally be used to describe the second person example of the same situations.In some cases it can be used on its own, as a command to someone, for example if someone does something socially impolite, you might say "excuse you!" The break might give you enough time to briefly thank the presenter and politely excuse yourself before the next session begins. site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under Ex. On the other hand, "I will reward myself." By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. Detailed answers to any questions you might have By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top

I mean, even without the reflexivity, the subject is explicitly "I". On the other hand, the noun "excuse", would be a reason for leaving, or having performed some action that requires an explanation.I called in sick to work yesterday. However it may be used to describe a time that you removed yourself from a social situation (a dinner, or a party, for example): My telephone rang, so I excused myself from the dinner.

If there are bathroom breaks between sessions, or there's a lunch break, plan your exit during one of those times. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader.

English Language & Usage Meta When you ask someone to excuse you as you leave a group or in the middle of a conversation, you're asking the other person or people The issue is that usually, if you are leaving a group, you seek the permission of the others in the group first.

Therefore a person "excuses himself": he doesn't even pretend to seek permission, and just slips away.Therefore, actually saying "I will excuse myself" when you're in a group of only two or three is slightly aggressive.

"I think OP just isn't a native speaker, so he thinks the reflexive form is odd. Doesn't the reflexivity of "myself" mean that it is me who is doing the excusing, rather than the person being addressed? Perhaps an example dialogue where the phrase is used?The most obvious use I can think of is when one is leaving a group, or in the middle of a conversation.That particular phrasing always makes me think you are removing yourself from a contentious situation or discussion in a polite manner with perhaps an implication others should do so also.I think the OP's wondering about "Excuse me" vs. "I will excuse myself.

English Language Learners Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled excuse yourself From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English excuse yourself excuse yourself to say politely that you need to leave a place Richard excused himself and went to his room. Anybody can ask a question