woe betide
Used to warn someone that trouble will occur if that person does something: bad things will happen to.
Woe betide you if you try that with my sister again!
betide
UK /bɪˈtaɪd/ US /bəˈtaɪd/
verb 2
Collocations
2BETIDE + NOUN
child, liege
ADV.
then
Definitions
verb
1
Often used in a prediction (chiefly in woe betide) or a wish: to happen to (someone or something); to befall.
Why wayle we then? why weary we the Gods with playnts, / As if ſome euill were to her betight? / She raignes a goddeſſe now emong the ſaintes, / That whilome was the ſaynt of ſhepheardes light: / And is enſtalled nowe in heauens hight.
Why, how now, countrymen! Why flock you thus to me in multitudes? What accident's betided to the Jews?
2
Chiefly in the third person: to happen; to take place; to bechance, to befall.
If he were dead what would betide of me.
[W]ipe thou thine eyes, haue comfort, / The direfull ſpectacle of the wracke which touch'd / The very vertue of compaſſion in thee: / I haue with ſuch prouiſion in mine Art / So ſafely ordered, that there is no ſoule / No not ſo much perdition as an hayre / Betid to any creature in the veſſel / Which thou heardſt cry, which thou ſaw'ſt ſinke: […]
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
501
Why wayle we then? why weary we the Gods with playnts, / As if ſome euill were to her betight? / She raignes a goddeſſe now emong the ſaintes, / That whilome was the ſaynt of ſhepheardes light: / And
Wiktionary02
Why, how now, countrymen! Why flock you thus to me in multitudes? What accident's betided to the Jews?
Wiktionary03
More health and happines betide my liege, / Then can my care tunde tongue deliuer him.
Wiktionary04
Woe betide him!
Tatoeba · #28506505
Woe betide the child who speaks correct English; he will be the laughing-stock of his classmates.
Tatoeba · #581190Usage Notes
i Register
In some senses, betide is marked as dated, literary. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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