2007-03-07 00:55:09 · 7 answers · asked by tokyo_gaijin_funguy 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
That's Woe Betide. Remember your Christmas carols? 'Tidings of gladness and joy'? This means a message of woe, or sadness, is coming.
2007-03-07 01:06:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, it's Woe betide
It usually goes with Woe betide anyone who .....
It means you (or anyone) are going to be in trouble (have a lot of woes) if you go ahead and do whatever you (or anyone) are being warned not to do.
2007-03-07 01:06:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wo betide means that bad things could happen.
eg "Wo betide you if you try and enter the lake" means "Bad things will happen to you if you try and enter the lake"
2007-03-07 00:58:01 · answer #3 · answered by Chris Down 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is "woe betide".
It is an old expression and it's really a warning.
- Woe betide he who enters these premises -
MEANS
- May harm/despair come to he who enters these premises -
So simply put, it means 'bad things will happen to you'.
2007-03-07 01:04:55 · answer #4 · answered by mxn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my mum in Yorkshire used it, it meant a spanking was coming if she could catch us
2015-10-12 06:51:13 · answer #5 · answered by syd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is usually written as woebetide. It's an old form of English and means loosely "you'll be in trouble if......" For example "woebetide you if you eat all my chocolate". Woe (unhappiness) will be upon you.
2007-03-07 01:01:42 · answer #6 · answered by catfish 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You will have a big problem!
"Woe" = affliction, trouble, etc..
"Betide" = happen, occur, etc..
Taken together it means "Sumpin' big comin' down if you.....do/don't do ..............."
So, be careful!
2007-03-07 01:03:03 · answer #7 · answered by Pete W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋