dear me

IPA/dˈiə mˌiː/
IPA/dˈɪɹ mˌiː/

dear me — interjection

1. a phrase you say out loud when something surprises you, worries you a little, or

1.interjectionB2
Definition

a phrase you say out loud when something surprises you, worries you a little, or makes you feel sorry about a small problem.

Example

Dear me, Maeve has spilled her whole cup of tea on the new carpet.

exclamation reacting to a small mishap

"Dear me," said the old librarian, "these books are far older than I thought."

Dear me + reported speech showing mild surprise

Common collocations
  • oh dear me
  • dear me no
Synonyms
  • oh dear

    very close in meaning; slightly more common and less old-fashioned

  • goodness me

    stronger surprise; also somewhat old-fashioned and British

  • my goodness

    more general surprise, used on both sides of the Atlantic

Grammar Patterns

Dear me, + clause

Usage Note

Said mainly by older British speakers; it reacts to a minor problem or surprise, never a serious disaster. Often stretched to "oh dear me" for extra feeling.

Common Mistakes

Dear me! The building is on fire and people are trapped!
Dear me, I have forgotten my umbrella again.
use it only for small troubles, not real emergencies.

Etymology

English

A shortened, softened exclamation that grew out of longer phrases like "dear God" and "dear Lord" used in surprise or distress. Over time the religious word was dropped, leaving the gentle, polite "dear me" that became common in British speech from the eighteenth century onward.