ouch
interjectionnounverbnouncommon in dialogue
- //ˈaʊt͡ʃ//
An expression of one's own physical pain.
interjection
- 1
An expression of one's own physical pain.
Ouch! You stepped on my toe! That hurt!
- 2
An expression in sympathy at another's pain.
Ouch! Her sunburn looks awful.
- 3
A reply to an insult seen as savage (frequently one that is tongue-in-cheek or joking).
Ouch. How could you say that?
- 4
An expression of disappointment.
Ouch, I really wanted to do that.
- 5
slangExpressing surprise at the high price of something.
Ouch, one hundred thousand dollars for a car! I could never afford that!
Etymology
Uncertain. Some sources say the interjection is attested since 1838 (and specifically in American English) and derives ultimately from German autsch, perhaps specifically via Pennsylvania German outch (“cry of pain”), as early attestations of the interjection are from Pennsylvania. However, others say the interjection is a "mere" or "natural" exclamation attested since the mid 1600s, and the 1933 OED cites one instance of a verb "ouch" in 1654, "Sancho Pancas Runs Ouching round the mountaine like a ranck-Asse".
noun
- 1
informalSomething that causes discomfort or pain.
RhuliGel soothes the itches and ouches of summer.
verb
- 1
To exclaim "ouch!" in discomfort or pain.
Imperturbability your skill, not mine / I ouch out loud and clear / Your forgiveness, like Pope's divine / I'm just an angry queer
noun
- 1
Variant of oucheAlternative form of ouche.
Etymology
Variant forms.
Forms
- plural
- ouches
- past tense
- ouched
- past participle
- ouched
- present participle
- ouching
- third person singular
- ouches
ouch · An expression of one's own physical pain.
Ouch · A surname.ought · Indicating duty or obligation.oui · Synonym of yes.