Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • interjection Used to express irritation, dismay, sorrow, or self-pity.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection oh dear

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Yiddish : oy, interjection expressing irritation or sorrow + vey, woe (from Middle High German , from Old High German wah, wē; akin to Old English waā, woe!).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Yiddish אוי וויי (oy vey), literally, “oh woe”. Compare German oh weh, ach weh, au weh.

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Examples

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