heaven forfendとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From heaven (“abode of God”) + forfend (“to avert; to forbid, prohibit”).

発音

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˌhɛvn̩ fɔːˈfɛnd/, /-fə-/
• (General American) IPA: /ˌhɛv(ə)n fɔɹˈfɛnd/
• 韻: -ɛnd
• ハイフネーション: heav‧en for‧fend

間投詞

heaven forfend

1. (dated or humorous) Used to express that one hopes that something does not happen

   Synonyms: heaven forbid, God forbid; see also Thesaurus:God forbid

   Antonym: God willing

   • 1990, Sam Simon, John Swartzwelder, “Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish”, in The Simpsons:

     Advisor: The voters now see you as imperial and god-like. Burns: Hot dog! Advisor: But there's a down-side to it. The latest polls indicate you're in danger of losing touch with the common man. Burns: Oh, dear! Heaven forfend!

   • 2007 November 23, Scott Murray, “Why England’s failure is good news for, er, England”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian‎, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 6 October 2014:

     Now there's an opportunity to employ a man who, heaven forfend, actually thinks about tactics and team balance.

使用する際の注意点

• The term is often used with irony, or in a tongue in cheek manner.