good grief

Idioms  

1. An exclamation expressing surprise, alarm, dismay, or some other, usually negative emotion. For example, Good grief! You're not going to start all over again, or Good grief! He's dropped the cake. The term is a euphemism for “good God.” [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Nonetheless, finding good grief books was just plain confusing.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 5, 2022

Draw a line from there to Friday, and there came a brew of holy mercy and good grief.

From Washington Post • Jun. 17, 2022

Bloom: I've become friendly with Fran Drescher, and I've been talking to her about this because I was at the final sound mix and I was sobbing — it was a good grief.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2019

Ah, but this was 2017, when confusion was merely the first stage of good grief.

From New York Times • Jan. 1, 2018

"The origin of good grief," writes Suzie Dent Grant Cartledge.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2013