oh dear
fixed phr..fixed phr.. A phrase you say when something a little bad or surprising happens. It shows mild disappointment, sympathy, or worry.
fixed phr.. An interjection used to express mild dismay, concern, or sympathy in response to a negative or unfortunate event.
Oh dear, I think I forgot my keys.
Oh dear, you've missed the bus. The next one isn't for another hour.
The accountant reviewed the initial figures and muttered to himself, 'Oh dear, this is much worse than we projected.'
This is a mild and polite exclamation, sometimes considered a bit old-fashioned or British.
Contrast with 'Oh no!' (more alarm) or 'Oops!' (for a small personal mistake) to show different levels of reaction.
Oh dear, I won the lottery!Wow, I won the lottery!'Oh dear' is used for negative or unfortunate situations, not for expressing happy surprise.