# oh dear

idiom · CEFR A2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/oh-dear
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

A phrase you say when something a little bad or surprising happens. It shows mild disappointment, sympathy, or worry.

## Examples

- Oh dear, I dropped my coffee on the floor.
- Oh dear, it looks like the train is delayed by another hour.
- Oh dear, the sudden storm has ruined all of our plans for the outdoor wedding ceremony.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.