Kirisute Gomen

The Japanese expression 斬捨て御免 is now in modern American culture in both song and film thanks to the James Bond novel You Only Live Twice where the villain Blofeld asks of Bond, "Have you ever heard the Japanese expression kirisute gomen?" and Bond replies, "Spare me the Lafcadio Hearn".

Originally this was the title for the right of a samurai to cut down a commoner for a perceived offense. This expression is not commonly used today but when it is, it is with "subtle humour in offering what amounts to an unsympathetic apology". For the background on this phrase please visit the Wikipedia Article - Kirisute Gomen.