My mum used to say when i was a kid "woe betide you" if you get a scratch on your new shoes or if you spill you dinner on your new dress or if your bedroom is a mess etc etc, the list goes on but it all started with "woe betide you"
Has anyone else heard of it.??
2006-12-21 02:32:55 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Yeah my mum always said that too, I think it means 'don't you dare'
Woe: Deep distress or misery, as from grief; wretchedness.
Betide: To happen to.
So literally it means 'may misery happen to you!'
2006-12-21 02:39:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Betide Definition
2016-10-04 13:56:34 · answer #2 · answered by daughenbaugh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
betide means to happen to somebody or something, so if you do something wrong then somebody will say woe betide you, they're really saying, bad things (woe) will happen to you (betide)
2006-12-21 06:47:05 · answer #3 · answered by fozz89 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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"Woe betide us" means "we will be overwhelmed with sorrow unless we treat this problem wisely."
2016-04-08 22:38:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's artsy-fartsy olde english Shakespearean style language that means "you will be in a world of sh*t...".
2006-12-21 02:36:22 · answer #5 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, it means
if u do that there'll be BIG trubble.
it's a bit of a threat.
however, as it was a turn of phrase fairly common in
days gone by i shouldn't hold it against her.
i have heard a lot, lot worse!!
2006-12-21 02:41:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, you read it in books about the 17-1800s basically meaning, you're gonna be in trouble if such and such happens.
2006-12-21 02:38:13 · answer #7 · answered by Fun2010 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I've heard of that one, basically means you're going to really regret it so make darn sure you don't do it.
2006-12-21 07:36:33 · answer #8 · answered by scattycat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I say it all the time. It's a basic form of 'god help you I'll tan your backside if you....whatever'
2006-12-21 02:35:21 · answer #9 · answered by Misha-non-penguin 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that bad things will happen if you do something naughty. You may get in trouble with your mum if you upset her.
2006-12-21 02:35:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋