Heaven forbid
3
7.7
- idiom
- Informal
:
Dios no lo quiera
- We should leave early, heaven forbid we get caught in traffic.
And and I wasn't, you know, trying to project or but, but like, heaven forbid anything really gnarly happens.
- And and I wasn't, you know, trying to project or but, but like, heaven forbid anything really gnarly happens.
- There's still brainwashing you into becoming an employee or a doctor or a lawyer or an accountant, heaven forbid.
- Again, if you do give brief yes, no, or heaven forbid a thumbs up on a text, they will again accuse you of stonewalling.
Examples
-
She is so quick to send fans signed books when they're singing her praises, but Heaven forbid anybody ever criticize her in the slightest.
Blog text (20) -
Now, heaven forbid you make an actual critique.
-
Heaven forbid you should ask me how.
Fiction book (1994) -
I asked them if I could share my story with them so if they ever, heaven forbid, had to go through one, they would have an idea of what was going to happen.
Blog text (29) -
Heaven forbid we should offend anyone other than ourselves.
Blog text (2) -
Heaven forbid Rachel suggested their motivations might be racist given the group's background.
Blog text (24) -
Heaven forbid we have to take a pill for insurance to allow us to live compassionately and in tune with our values.
Blog text (20) -
Heaven forbid the powers that be should allow a local NR affiliate to become relevant!
Blog text (24) -
Heaven forbid Karl Rove and Hannity do not get to select the appropriate candidate.
Blog text (15) -
That's the thing—in some parts of the world, soldiers are at risk of being "in harm's way," or, heaven forbid, in danger of being killed.
Blog text (20)
Synonyms
22
6.6
To show a strong wish that something bad will not happen
To say you do not want something bad to happen
May God stop something bad from happening
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal parts 'heaven' (divine realm) + 'forbid' (to prevent) combine to suggest 'may heaven prevent it', so a learner who knows both words can often infer it expresses a wish that something bad not happen. However, the phrase is a fixed, somewhat formulaic interjection with an archaic jussive structure and usage/pragmatic force that may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Heaven forbid comes from people praying to God and asking Heaven to 'forbid' or stop something bad from happening. That's why today we say it to show a strong hope that something will 'not happen'.