Etymology Journal · S
Say it ain't so!
Meaning
- An expression of disbelief or shock at news that is deeply unwelcome or disappointing. It implies that you desperately hope the rumor you heard is actually false.
Disappointed, dramatic
Used in a sentence
- The restaurant is closing permanently? Say it ain't so!
- You are quitting the team right before the playoffs? Say it ain't so!
- Say it ain't so! Did they really cancel our favorite show?
The backstory
The phrase gained massive fame from the legend of a young boy begging the baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson not to admit to the Black Sox scandal in 1919. It remains the ultimate plea for good news.
Heard in
Nationwide
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