to what do I owe the pleasure

English

Pronunciation

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Phrase

to what do I owe the pleasure?

1. (formal or humorous) A question asked to know the reason for being visited by the interlocutor.

   Synonym: to what do I owe this honour

   • 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], “The Midget”, in Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN, page 109:

     At that moment the headmaster Mr Grave entered the classroom without knocking, his long coat flapping behind him like a cape. The naughty kids at the back of the class who had been texting throughout the lesson quickly hid their mobile phones under the desk. “Ah, Mr Grave, to what do I owe the pleasure?” said Miss Midge, smiling.

Translations

to what do I owe the pleasure

• Hebrew: במה זכיתי לכבוד
• Japanese: 何に喜びがあるのか。 (nani ni yorokobi ga aru noka)
• Polish: czemu zawdzięczam ten zaszczyt