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Etymology Journal · W

Whoopsie daisy!

Meaning

An exclamation of mild error or clumsiness, usually said after tripping or dropping something small. It is a polite and childish way to brush off a minor mistake.

Cute, dismissive

Used in a sentence

  • Whoopsie daisy, I almost spilled my tea.
  • I dropped the napkin on the floor, said whoopsie daisy, and picked it right back up.
  • He tripped over his own feet and mumbled, whoopsie daisy.

The backstory

This is a variation of ups-a-daisy, which was historically used to encourage a child to get up after a fall. Over time, it became a synonym for accidental blunders.

Heard in

Nationwide

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