phew

American  

[fyoo, pfyoo, whyoo] / fyu, pfyu, whyu /

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation to express disgust, exhaustion, surprise, impatience, relief, etc.).

   Phew, it's hot!

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phew British  

/ fjuː /

interjection

1. an exclamation of relief, surprise, disbelief, weariness, etc

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Etymology

Origin of phew

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

Looking back now, at 16, having just done my GCSEs and being with the first team, it's like, 'phew' but at the time, you're just focused and trying to prove that you belong there.

From BBC

“So having a window into that and also to be like, ‘Phew, they’re such good people,’ it was just such a gift.

From Los Angeles Times

In an update to her social media on Friday, she said had completed chemotherapy: "Seems I'm not dead... So, phew, big relief."

From BBC

“Phew. There are a lot of pictures in your books, including one of a polar bear. It scares me to consider what might have gone missing.”

From Literature

Before I could unwind myself from the gate post, Daisy turned loose of my arm, stepped back, and said, “Phew! What’s that I smell?”

From Literature

Related Words

• cry
• exclamation
• expletive
• insertion
• interpolation
• interposition
• shout