Etymology Journal ยท O
Oh dear!
Meaning
- A polite, slightly old-fashioned way to express concern or mild distress. It is often used when something breaks, someone trips, or you get bad news.
Gentle, concerned
Used in a sentence
- Oh dear, I seem to have spilled tea on the rug.
- Oh dear, is the baby feeling alright?
- Oh dear, the storm looks like it is getting much worse.
The backstory
The word dear has been used as an exclamation of emotion since the Middle Ages. It is a classic, soft way to handle life's small accidents.
Heard in
Nationwide
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