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May I please take your leave?



 
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May I please take your leave? #1 (permalink) Wed Feb 04, 2009 13:12 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

I want to know that when we depart from a social gathering / party / conference, if we say "may I please take your leave", is that correct. Please let me know what to say during these occasions. Thanking you in advance.
Vishvajeetchatterjee
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May I please take your leave? #2 (permalink) Wed Feb 04, 2009 20:53 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

I think it is possible, but I am not sure. I looked into my dictionaries and found the following:
take leave of somebody/take your leave - formal to say goodbye to someone.
But I can't understand why we can't just say 'may I leave you'?
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May I please take your leave? #3 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:15 am   May I please take your leave?
 

"May I please take your leave" is very formal, and very archaic, so it may invite a little laughter, especially if an Indian says it, because Indians already have a reputation for using very archaic, excessively formal English sometimes.

One good thing to say would be, "I'm sorry (or I apologize), but I have to be going now (or I need to leave now)," after which it is socially obligatory to offer a reason, even if the reason is untrue or silly. In English-speaking society we always offer an excuse in that situation, rather than just saying we have to leave.
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May I please take your leave? #4 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:39 am   May I please take your leave?
 

Hi Jamie,

Can you please give an example of such a silly or untrue reason?

Thanks,
Torsten
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May I please take your leave? #5 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:48 am   May I please take your leave?
 

"I've just realized I left my keys in my car," when it's not true.

"I have a client meeting," when it's not true.

"My son's school just called," when it's not true.

"I think I left the stove on," when it's not true.

There are potentially millions of silly or untrue reasons.
Jamie (K)
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May I please take your leave? #6 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:36 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

Dear Torsten,

I would like to convey my thanks to Ms. Inga and Ms. Jamie for their posts which I find quite informative. Still, I would request you to please let me know when we can say "May I take your leave" and what are the appropriate sentences which could be used apart for the above posts.

Thanks in advance.

Vishvajeet Chatterjee
Vishvajeetchatterjee
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May I please take your leave? #7 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:37 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

Dear Torsten,

I would also like to know the meaning of "screwed up" as quoted by newly elected President Obama.

Thanks in advance.

Vishvajeet Chatterjee
Vishvajeetchatterjee
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May I please take your leave? #8 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:38 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

Dear Vishvajeet Chatterjee,

I think the phrase 'May I take your leave' is no longer used in modern spoken English so you will find it in historic novels only.

Best regards,
Torsten
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May I please take your leave? #9 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:50 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

Dear Torsten,

I thank you profusely for your prompt reply and proper explanation. Now, I have no doubts about it.

Please let me know about the term 'screwed up' at your convenience.

Thanks and best regards.

Vishvajeet Chatterjee
Vishvajeetchatterjee
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Joined: 08 Jul 2008
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Location: Indore

May I please take your leave? #10 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:54 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

Screwed up is a slang expression that means 'messed up'. Where did you come across this expression?
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May I please take your leave? #11 (permalink) Thu Feb 05, 2009 13:00 pm   May I please take your leave?
 

Vishvajeetchatterjee wrote:
I would like to convey my thanks to Ms. Inga and Ms. Jamie for their posts which I find quite informative.

Sir, I'm Mr. Jamie.
Jamie (K)
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