perish the thought

Idioms

Don't even think of it. This expression is used as a wish that what was just mentioned will never happen. For example, He's going to give another speech? Perish the thought! This phrase appeared in Handel's oratorio Joshua (1748; text by Thomas Morell): “It never shall be said that our allies in vain implor'd our aid. Perish the thought!” Also see god forbid.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

perish the thought

This would allow you to meet unexpected expenses without having to sell investments during a market downturn or, perish the thought, borrow against your home.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

Is it about her dead mother, perish the thought?

From Washington Post ● Feb. 3, 2019

I changed shafts three more times in quick succession simply to perish the thought.

From Golf Digest ● Feb. 6, 2017

She said there's nothing improper — or, perish the thought, unethical — about paying membership dues to an entity that also decides which self-nominated companies are the most ethical in the world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2014

And yet did he love her? no! perish the thought!

From The Roman Traitor, Vol. 1 by Henry William Herbert

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023