Idiom idiom
woe to
Meaning
Used to warn someone of trouble or danger if they carry out a certain risky action.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“Woe to anyone who touches my lunch in the office fridge.”
“The sign warned that woe to those who park in this spot, as their cars will be towed immediately.”
“The ancient prophecy declared that woe to the kingdom that ignores the signs of the coming storm, for destruction will surely follow.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026