prettygoodword (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
prettygoodword) wrote2025-04-29 08:03 am
prettygoodword) wrote2025-04-29 08:03 am
whoops
whoops (WUPS, WOOPS, HWUPS, HWOOPS) - inter., used to express mild surprise or apology.
This probably but not provably a variation on oops -- this surprisingly recent expression is attested from 1931, while oops is also surprisingly recent, attested from 1922. Oops itself is a shortening of oopsy-daisy, used to reassure a baby or toddler when lifting them (especially after toppling over), attested from the 1860s, alteration of earlier forms upsydaisy and upa-daisy, before which the trail grows cold.
---L.
This probably but not provably a variation on oops -- this surprisingly recent expression is attested from 1931, while oops is also surprisingly recent, attested from 1922. Oops itself is a shortening of oopsy-daisy, used to reassure a baby or toddler when lifting them (especially after toppling over), attested from the 1860s, alteration of earlier forms upsydaisy and upa-daisy, before which the trail grows cold.
---L.