Definitions
Sorry, no definitions found. Check out and contribute to the discussion of this word!
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word if-onlys.
Examples
-
Folks, take it easy on Kristin -- we all knew the minute the "Perdu" column was posted, that she and Jean-Marc were torturing themselves further with all the "what-ifs" and "if-onlys" that their minds could create, and wagging your finger and saying you told them so at this point does nothing.
-
But there is one positive side to this, and that is when you are so depressed and upset about the death of a child, and under those circumstances, and the self blame and the if-onlys, that when you can get angry at someone - it has been an accident.
-
Let's let our grief -- for this is its purpose -- cleanse our sadness, our regret, our if-onlys, our doubts, our fears, our worries.
Dr. Susan Corso: Cheating (Economic) Grief Through Solitaire 2009
-
Folks, take it easy on Kristin -- we all knew the minute the "Perdu" column was posted, that she and Jean-Marc were torturing themselves further with all the "what-ifs" and "if-onlys" that their minds could create, and wagging your finger and saying you told them so at this point does nothing.
-
As her mind roamed over the possibilities, the what-ifs and if-onlys, she was drawn back, not to the fire, but to the thing that had happened almost two years before.
Plain Language Barbara Wright 2007
-
As her mind roamed over the possibilities, the what-ifs and if-onlys, she was drawn back, not to the fire, but to the thing that had happened almost two years before.
Plain Language Barbara Wright 2007
-
If only she had a joint to relax her or some black beauties to wire her up, but if-onlys were just as empty as her pockets.
Their Dogs Came With Them Helena María Viramontes 2007
-
As her mind roamed over the possibilities, the what-ifs and if-onlys, she was drawn back, not to the fire, but to the thing that had happened almost two years before.
Plain Language Barbara Wright 2007
-
As her mind roamed over the possibilities, the what-ifs and if-onlys, she was drawn back, not to the fire, but to the thing that had happened almost two years before.
Plain Language Barbara Wright 2007
-
As the Democrats lament their long litany of if-onlys, Kerry's unwillingness to sprinkle every campaign speech with Bible verses is high on the list.
USATODAY.com - Presidential election may have hinged on one issue: Issue 1 2004
Telofy commented on the word if-onlys
“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.”
—Mercedes Lackey
January 6, 2010
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word if-onlys
If only 'if-onlys' weren't.
February 20, 2010
yarb commented on the word if-onlys
I think Lackey means "the saddest two words..."
If only.
February 21, 2010