Sorry to (do something), but (sentence)

When you want to do something that you think might annoy people, but you need to do it anyway, you say "Sorry to ___". For example:

Sorry to say this, but I don't think that's a very good idea.

Sorry to leave early, but I have to go and pick my son up from school.

If you want to be more formal, you say:

I'm sorry to interrupt, but may I ask you something quickly?

This phrase appears in these lessons: