God forbid

Meaning: Used to say that one hopes something bad will not happen.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “If, God forbid, the flight is canceled, we'll take the train.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: A short prayer asking God to prevent something. It is found in English from the Middle Ages.

Equivalents in other languages

kill them all and let God sort them out — A grim or joking call to act ruthlessly without distinguishing innocent from guilty.
play hooky — To skip school or work without permission.
sing someone's praises — To praise someone enthusiastically.
grasp all, lose all — If you try to get too much, you may end up with nothing.
the power behind the throne — Someone with no official title who secretly controls a leader.
born in a trunk — Raised in a family of traveling performers and in the business from childhood.

a little bird told me — I learned it from a secret source I won't name.
put one's feet up — To relax and rest.
blow a gasket — To lose one's temper completely.
hearts and flowers — Excessive sentimentality.
the road to hell is paved with good intentions — Good intentions are worthless, or even harmful, if they lead to bad actions.
against all odds — Despite great difficulty or opposition.

There is no rule without an exception. — Absolute rules inevitably encounter situations where their strict application breaks down…
Love rules his kingdom without a sword. — Affection maintains order and obedience more effectively than force or coercion ever coul…
He that runs fastest gets the prize. — Swift action and competitive urgency often secure advantages before slower competitors ca…