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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.
