perish the thought

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

And perish the thought of acknowledging in any significant way how so many of those "investments" have failed spectacularly, including the Zumwalt-class destroyers and the Navy's Freedom-class littoral combat ships that came to be known in the Pentagon as "little crappy ships."

From Salon

The tomcat was a sentimental topic of conversation in Cameron’s final appearance in Parliament as prime minister when he said he wanted to quash a rumor that — perish the thought — he didn’t like Larry.

From Seattle Times

Promoting a forthcoming episode of her show that examines the dark arts, Beard added: “We all know what used to happen to witches and for centuries the charge of witchcraft was used to disempower and punish what seemed to be the threat of women in society. There was a fear of female agency, a fear of women communing with a supernatural world where – perish the thought! – the patriarchy was not fully in place and, perhaps most profoundly, a fear of older women.”

From The Guardian

Perish the thought that financial institutions should factor climate risks into investment decision-making.

From Washington Post

And if, perish the thought, I should never have the opportunity to choreograph again, then how thankful I am that these dances exist on screen – and the videos reassure me that yes, I did something well.

From The Guardian