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damsel in distress

American  
[dam-zuhl in di-stres] / ˈdæm zəl ɪn dɪˈstrɛs /

noun

  1. a person, usually a young woman, who needs to be rescued from danger or trouble of some kind.

    This plumber is worth his weight in gold, and I would like to thank him for going out of his way to help this damsel in distress.

  2. Sometimes Damsel in Distress a trope or narrative device in movies, books, games, etc., portraying a female character as a victim in need of rescue.

    It has an exotic locale, the classic battle of man against nature, and, of course, a damsel in distress.


Etymology

Origin of damsel in distress

First recorded in 1690–1700