ouch
ouch — exclamation
1. said immediately when something suddenly causes physical pain.
said immediately when something suddenly causes physical pain.
Ouch, I shut my finger in the car door.
Ouch, + clause after sudden pain
The little boy whispered, "Ouch," when the nurse cleaned his scraped knee.
quoted reaction during treatment
Ouch! That hot pan burned my thumb through the oven glove.
Ouch! + comment after a burn
Cyrus stepped on a Lego brick and shouted, "Ouch!"
Ouch, the dentist's cold water hit my sore tooth.
Ouch, + specific body-part pain
- say "ouch"
- shout "ouch"
- ouch, my finger
- ouch, that hurts
Grammar Patterns
Ouch! + short reaction after pain
Ouch, + comment about what hurts
Usage Note
Usually said alone or before a very short comment such as 'ouch, my hand'. For continuing pain, speakers normally switch to verbs like 'hurt' or 'ache' instead of repeating 'ouch'.
Common Mistakes
2. said after an unkind remark or joke when it feels emotionally painful.
said after an unkind remark or joke when it feels emotionally painful.
"You sing worse than Dad." "Ouch, that was rude."
Ouch, + comment after an insult
Putri laughed, then said "Ouch" when Leo mocked Putri's old phone.
say "ouch" after a personal joke
Ouch, Coach Ramirez did not need to call me lazy.
Ouch, + direct reaction to criticism
Andrei smiled weakly and muttered, "Ouch," after the breakup joke.
"Still single at thirty?" "Ouch, thanks for the reminder."
often half-playful but clearly hurt
- ouch, that was rude
- say "ouch" after a joke
- mutter "ouch"
- ouch, harsh
Grammar Patterns
Ouch, + reaction to a rude remark
say "ouch" after + criticism or teasing
Usage Note
Often follows teasing, blunt honesty, or criticism, and can sound half-playful when the emotional hurt is mild. Distinguish from sense 1: here the pain is social or emotional, not physical.
Common Mistakes
ouch — noun
1. a rare old word for a decorative clasp or ornament on clothing, often holding a
a rare old word for a decorative clasp or ornament on clothing, often holding a jewel.
The queen's cloak was fastened with a gold ouch at the neck.
historical clothing item worn at the neck
A jeweller reset the loose pearl in the silver ouch.
hold a jewel in a decorative fastener
The museum label explained that the ouch once held a ruby.
Only the richest lord could afford an ouch on his robe.
rare noun in a historical clothing context
- gold ouch
- silver ouch
- an ouch on a robe
- set a pearl in an ouch
Grammar Patterns
an ouch on a cloak
set a jewel in an ouch
Usage Note
Usually found only in historical, biblical, or literary writing. In modern English, people normally say 'brooch', 'clasp', or 'ornament' instead.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
First known use
1838
1838, in the meaning defined above Noun