uh-oh, Spaghetti-O
- idiom
- /ʌˈoʊ spəˈɡɛti oʊ/
- Baby Talk
:
uy, Spaghetti-O
- When the vase fell, I thought, uh-oh, Spaghetti-O!
Examples
-
When the paint spilled on the carpet, all I could say was uh-oh, Spaghetti-O.
-
He opened his exam paper and thought, uh-oh, Spaghetti-O, I didn’t study this chapter!
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Uh-oh, Spaghetti-O, the power just went out right before dinner.
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Did you just say uh-oh, Spaghetti-O in a meeting?
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Uh-oh, Spaghetti-O, the power just went out right before dinner.
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He opened his exam paper and thought, uh-oh, Spaghetti-O, I didn’t study this chapter!
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When the paint spilled on the carpet, all I could say was uh-oh, Spaghetti-O.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Show a sudden feeling like surprise or understanding
∞
7.2
To say when surprised or when you want someone to stop suddenly
∞
7.2
A short sound people make to show surprise or pleasure
553
6.4
An exclamation showing surprise, wonder, or mild annoyance
422
7.5
A small amount of care or worry about something
380
9.3
A short sound people make to show mild amusement or slight disbelief
359
9.9
A shout people make to show excitement or surprise
347
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
321
6.6
A short exclamation people use to show surprise or strong feeling
90
8.9
A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance
36
9.4
A short sound people say to show surprise or admiration
26
9.9
A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked
16
8.3
A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement
13
7.4
Shows surprise or mild doubt about what someone just said
7
9.1
A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain
3
9.9
A short sound people make to show surprise or admiration
3
9.6
To say when you are very surprised or shocked
2
8.2
A short word said after a small mistake often used playfully
2
9.9
An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something
2
9.9
A short cry showing surprise or sudden understanding
2
7.0
To show surprise, shock or disbelief in a mild, polite way
1
8.9
A short playful word people say after a small mistake
1
8.4
A short laugh that shows surprise or amusement
1
9.9
Say it when you suddenly feel upset or annoyed about a mistake
1
9.9
A short exclamation showing frustration or surprise
A short word people say to show playful surprise or mild shock
A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something
A friendly phrase people say to show surprise or excitement
A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something
A short shout to get attention, for example to show surprise or annoyance
An informal word said to show surprise, doubt, or annoyance
People type it online to show confusion or surprise
To say or write a short exclamation to show surprise
A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance
How Concerned
Surface Forms
Morphology
uh-oh, + Spaghetti-O
The core meaning ('mild surprise or dismay') is signalled transparently by 'uh-oh', but the tag 'Spaghetti-O' is a playful, brand-based rhyme that does not contribute literal compositional meaning. Because understanding the overall expression depends on recognizing the interjection plus a culture-specific humorous tag rather than a regular compositional pattern, it is only partially predictable to learners.
Etymology
The expression uh-oh, Spaghetti-O likely comes from the small warning uh-oh being turned into a playful rhyme by adding the silly food name Spaghetti-O, maybe from the canned snack or just for the funny sound. By turning uh-oh into a rhyme, the phrase makes a little problem feel light and joking, so people use it for mild 'surprise' or 'concern'.