Good grief

Meaning

The idiom "good grief" is an exclamation used to express surprise or shock. It can also be used as a euphemism for curse words. The literal meaning of the phrase is an expression of relief that one did not actually say or do something bad, but instead said or did something milder.

Usage

• "Good grief! I just spilled my coffee all over myself."
• "Good grief, I can't believe I forgot to bring my phone charger."
• "Good grief, you got a speeding ticket?"
• "Good grief, you didn't really mean that."
• "Good grief, what am I going to tell my boss?" The usage of the phrase "good grief" can vary depending on the context. It is commonly used as an expression of surprise or shock, but it can also be used in a euphemistic way to replace curse words.

Roots and History

The idiom "good grief" first appeared in print in the late 19th century in the United States. Its origin is unclear, but it may have been influenced by other expressions of relief such as "thank God." It has since become a common expression used in both formal and informal language.

Synonyms in English

• Phew!
• Whew!
• Yikes!
• Yippee!

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: ¡Qué pena! (This phrase is similar to "oh no" or "what a pity.")
• French: Merde! (This phrase is an euphemism for the word "merde," which means "crap.")
• German: Oh kruppeln, kommen muss. (This phrase is similar to "well, I guess so.")
• Italian: Non mi piace/non mi piace molto. (These phrases are similar to "I don't like it/I don't like it very much.")

Similar Idioms

• get off

• go by the book

• spare someone’s blushes