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3. woe

woe

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tale of woe

a sad story; a list of personal problems; an excuse for failing to do something. I listened to her tale of woe without saying anything. This tale of woe that we have all been getting from Kelly is just too much.

See also: of, tale, woe

Woe is me!

I am unfortunate.; I am unhappy. (Usually humorous.) Woe is me! I have to work when the rest of the office staff is off. Woe is me. I have the flu and my friends have gone to a party.

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woe betide somebody

also woe be unto somebody

bad things will happen to someone Woe betide anyone who plays Ann's CDs without asking her first. And woe be unto anyone who messes with my desk!

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woe betide somebody

  (humorous)

if you say woe betide the person who does something, you mean that they will be punished or cause trouble for themselves if they do that thing Woe betide anyone who plays Ann's tapes without her permission.

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tale of woe

n. a sad story; a list of personal problems; an excuse for failing to do something. I listened to her tale of woe without saying anything.

See also: of, tale, woe

woe betide (someone)

1. Used to express the wish for someone to experience misfortune.

2. Used as a warning or allusion to negative consequences: "Even though my dad was no farmer, he was a crack shot and a very good hunter&.... woe betide the unwary moose that wandered down from Canada" (Howard Frank Mosher).

See also: woe

woe is me

Used to lament one's situation or fate.

See also: woe

woe to (someone)

1. Used to express the wish for someone to experience misfortune.

2. Used as a warning or allusion to negative consequences: "Our sun will be a red giant, and woe to any earthlings who may be around to witness its bloated blush, for the planet on which they stand will likely be vaporized in the expansion" (Natalie Angier).

See also: woe