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darn it

darn it

17 8.4
A short phrase people say when they feel frustrated or disappointed
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : rayos
  • Darn it, I can't believe I forgot my keys again!
  • Gosh darn it
  • Oh, darn it

Gosh darn it, this game is impossible.

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Examples

Synonyms

damn
vsdarn it
  • NSFW
6.7

Said to show anger, surprise or annoyance

is milder, used for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment without strong vulgarity
goddamn
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
659 9.2

Shows strong anger, annoyance, or surprise in rude informal speech

is milder and avoids strong vulgar emphasis, focusing on frustration instead
heck
vsdarn it
  • Informal
422 7.5

A small amount of care or worry about something

is used to voice frustration, annoyance, or disappointment more directly
what the hell
vsdarn it
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is focused more narrowly on frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
goddamned
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
121 9.9

Shows strong anger or annoyance in a rude way

is mild, expressing frustration, annoyance, or disappointment without offense
argh
vsdarn it
  • Informal
67 8.8

A short cry people say when they feel frustrated or annoyed

is milder and fits general frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
for Christ's sake
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
65 9.7

A strong expression showing anger, surprise, or urgency

is milder and expresses ordinary frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
darn
vsdarn it
  • Informal
62 6.7

A word people say when they feel annoyed or surprised

is used more for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
for heaven's sake
vsdarn it
  • Informal
45 7.6

People say it to show impatience or anger

is milder and used for ordinary frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
for fuck's sake
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
33 9.9

A very rude phrase people say to show strong anger or annoyance

is milder, used for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment without vulgarity
for crying out loud
vsdarn it
  • Informal
31 8.2

You say this when you feel very annoyed or impatient

is milder and fits general frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
darned
vsdarn it
  • Informal
27 7.4

An informal word that makes a feeling stronger, for example very tired

is focused on expressing frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
for Pete's sake
vsdarn it
  • Informal
21 9.0

Shows someone is annoyed, impatient, or in a hurry when spoken

is more about expressing frustration, annoyance, or disappointment calmly
damnit
vsdarn it
  • NSFW
15 8.4

A short angry cry people say when they feel annoyed or frustrated

is milder and more for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment than anger
fucking hell
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
14 9.9

A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked

is less intense and used for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
for goodness' sake
vsdarn it
  • Informal
10 7.6

Say it when you are annoyed to ask someone to do or stop something

is mainly used to voice frustration, annoyance, or disappointment without urging
goddam
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
9 9.9

Adds strong anger or surprise to what you say

is less intense and avoids vulgar strong emphasis, focusing on frustration
drat
vsdarn it
  • Informal
7 9.5

A short spoken word people use to show mild annoyance or disappointment

is used for general frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
doggone
vsdarn it
  • Informal
4 9.4

A short exclamation that shows annoyance or disappointment

is the same idea but used broadly for frustration and disappointment
gawd
vsdarn it
  • Slang
4 9.9

A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance

is focused on plain frustration, annoyance, or disappointment rather than shock
aagh
vsdarn it
  • Informal
3 9.9

A short cry people make when they feel pain or are annoyed

is used for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment more than pain
geesh
vsdarn it
  • Informal
2 9.9

An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something

is used for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment instead of disbelief
for pity's sake
vsdarn it
  • Informal
2 8.2

A person asks angrily and urgently for someone to act now

is mainly a simple expression of frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
oh brother
vsdarn it
  • Informal
2 8.7

A phrase that shows frustration or annoyance

is a general exclamation for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
dratted
vsdarn it
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A mild word people use to show they are annoyed about something

is oriented to general frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
goddamnit
vsdarn it
  • Offensive
1 9.9

People say a strong angry word when they feel very annoyed

is milder and used for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment without strong offense
oh crap
vsdarn it
  • Informal
1 9.9

Say it when you suddenly feel upset or annoyed about a mistake

is used for general frustration, annoyance, or disappointment not only mistakes
danged
vsdarn it
  • Informal
1 9.0

A short word people say to show mild anger, surprise, or frustration

focuses on frustration, annoyance, or disappointment rather than surprise
confound it
vsdarn it
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A short phrase people say when they are annoyed

is more commonly used for ordinary frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
to consarn
vsdarn it
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To say an old-fashioned rude word to show surprise or anger

is neutral modern speech for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
drats
vsdarn it
  • Informal
9.2

A mild exclamation people say when they feel annoyed or disappointed

is used for broader frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
dash it
vsdarn it
  • Archaic
9.2

A short mild word people say when they are annoyed

is used mainly to show frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
durn
vsdarn it
  • Informal
9.9

Feeling a little angry or annoyed about something

is used for direct frustration, annoyance, or disappointment rather than humor
durned
vsdarn it
  • Informal
9.9

A short word said to show surprise or mild anger

is used for expressing frustration, annoyance, or disappointment specifically
bejeezus
vsdarn it
  • Informal
9.9

A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance

is used mainly for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment rather than shock
consarned
vsdarn it
  • Archaic
9.9

An old mild word people say when they are annoyed

is used more in current speech for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
dern
vsdarn it
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word used to show anger or strong dislike

is used as a general exclamation for frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
frell
vsdarn it
  • NSFW
9.9

Very bad and annoying

is milder, used for general frustration, annoyance, or disappointment
goldamned
vsdarn it
  • NSFW
9.9

People say this to show annoyance or strong feeling

is focused on ordinary frustration, annoyance, or disappointment without vulgarity

How Strong

for crying out loud
  • Informal
31 8.2
damnit
  • NSFW
15 8.4
darn it
  • Informal
17 8.4
drat
  • Informal
7 9.5

Surface Forms

darn it main

Morphology

darn + it

The meaning of 'darn it' is directly derived from 'darn' (a mild exclamation of frustration) with 'it' pointing to the offending thing or situation; the pronoun does not change the basic exclamative meaning. This simple compositional pattern (exclamation + pronoun/object slot) is common across languages and thus readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The expression darn it began as a softer way to say the rude word 'damn it' when people wanted to avoid swearing. So today people say darn it to show frustration or annoyance without using a stronger curse.