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Synonyms

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!
phew British  
/ fjuː /

interjection

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of phew

First recorded in 1595–1605

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.

I was like, “Oh, he didn’t get together with Aiko. OK, phew.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Phew!” the driver exclaimed, holding his nose.

From Literature

He “was groaning a lot, saying, ‘Phew.’

From Slate

Landlady Beccy Webster said: "When the final whistle went, I just said 'phew!'"

From BBC

This postseason features two rising-star rookie quarterbacks, at least two Week 1 rematches and one big phew.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.