usage cases for 失礼します?


I was listening a conversation where a guy said そろそろ 失礼します。  
I also heard inflections like 失礼しました。

> Google translate : 失礼します == Excuse me.  
>  is it correct ?

What is the proper meaning and usage cases for 失礼します ?




失礼 is used in many situations.  
It can be used as an apology, which is the original meaning of the word. But
it can also be used as a greeting when entering or leaving a room or a place.  
It is very common for workers to leave the workplace by greeting the other co-
coworkers with  
お先に失礼します。(o-saki ni shitsurei shimasu)

It can also be used as a greeting when finishing a phone conversation.

It can be used just like in English to start a conversation:  
失礼ですが... (excuse me...)

<http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/98858/meaning/m0u/>  
<https://careerpark.jp/77267>




There are many ways to use it.  
失礼 means rude.

> そろそろ 失礼します。

Probably means

> "I will be leaving soon"

It is used a lot when you finish your day at work for example.  
I guess in a way it means that you will do the rudeness of leaving before the
others.

> 失礼しました

means

> I did something rude

And can be used in many ways. For example, you could say it after you got
corrected after saying something wrong making a mistake.

