woe betide

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See also: woebetide

English

Etymology

From Early Modern English, loosely translating into modern-day English to mean May woe rise up against, formerly used to decry a person's actions. Grammatically, it is a phrase whose verb is in the subjunctive mood.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (AU):(file)

Verb

woe betide

  1. (idiomatic) Bad things will happen to
    Woe betide you if you try that with my sister again!