The meaning of "I say"

[Parallel]

What does Hyacinth Bouquet mean when she goes "I say" in the text "front gardening I hate"? Is it "I beg your pardon?" or "Listen to me!" or "I'm right as allways!" I couldn't find anything about the expression in the Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary... Many thanks, Urs.

[Tamta]

"I say" means "listen to me"
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"Never judge a book by its cover..."

[Alan]

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Hi,

In the story that I wrote about front gardening, the character you mention calls out: 'I say' in order to attract attention. It's rather an impolite way of saying: 'Excuse me' when you want to ask someone something.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Cerberus™]

OED on "say":

12. I say
...
b. colloq. quasi-int[erjection]. Used to call attention to what is about to be said. (In N. Amer. shortened to say.) Also, as a mere exclamation expressive of surprise, delight, dismay, or indignant protest. ...

[Alan]

Hi,

Well, I did just explain that, didn't I? After all I wrote the piece!

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Cerberus™]

Yes, you did. I hadn't read your story yet; your description of her approach immediately made me feel like Elizabeth and draw the curtains. I suppose the OED has little to add, except mentioning a few emotions.

[Parallel]

Hi,
many thanks to Alan, Tamta and Cerberus for your help with "I say". But please no scene about who was first answering it...
Urs :)