Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
durn shame

durn shame

9.9
A feeling of regret or disappointment about something unfortunate
  • noun
  • /dɜrn ʃeɪm/
  • Informal
translation icon : maldita pena
  • It's a durn shame that we missed the concert.

Examples

  • It's a durn shame you couldn't make it to the party.

  • What a durn shame that the store is closed already.

  • It's a durn shame they canceled the concert.

  • What a durn shame it is to lose such a good job!

  • It's a durn shame they canceled the concert.

  • What a durn shame that the store is closed already.

  • It's a durn shame you couldn't make it to the party.

Synonyms

shame
vsdurn shame
442 1.3

A sad or disappointing situation you wish were different

serves as an informal spoken phrase to express regret
deuced shame
vsdurn shame
  • Archaic
9.9

A great pity or disappointment

expresses regret without necessarily being about extreme disappointment

Antonyms

joy
793 1.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

satisfaction
192 2.2

A pleasant feeling when you achieve something or your needs are met

How Regrettable

shame
442 1.3
durn shame
  • Informal
9.9
more's the pity
  • Informal
1 9.1

Surface Forms

durn shame singular
durn shames plural

Morphology

durn + shame

The phrase combines an informal intensifier 'durn' (a dialectal spelling of 'darn') with 'shame' meaning 'a pity', so the overall sense 'what a pity' is directly derivable from the constituents. This simple intensifier + noun pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Durn shame comes from a mild, local way of saying a stronger word. People used durn as a soft form of 'damn' and shame to mean pity, so together it became a short way to show 'disappointment' or 'regret'.