drat

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'drat' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an expression of annoyance, frustration, or disappointment. For example, you could say: "Drat! I forgot my wallet at home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

They will die, therefore, not with that familiar "ping!" and "Oh, drat!", but with a quieter dimming, like the dark condensate veiling on glass that is very old.

The Economist

"Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, drat!" The car kept backing.

The New Yorker

"Drat that cat!" resounds through the house — until Suzy decides to remind her humans just how much they really love her.

The New York Times - Books

Readers will also come away with a new vocabulary word: "Drat".

The New York Times - Books

I say drat, egad and pish (or one of those other crosswordy exclamations that have saved me in a tight corner) to blasted rules!

The New York Times

DRAT THAT CAT! Written and illustrated by Tony Ross.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

In effect, a slower start followed by a faster build-up later can get you to the same eventual benefit in terms of reduced emissions, but far more cheaply.There they go again, those dratted economists, assuming that a smaller cost is good, missing the point as always.

The Economist

Everyone from President Obama to GE (which insists it is desperate to close those dratted loopholes, at least if doing so is part of a broader reform) is saying that something must be done.

The Economist

The dratted devices also make it easier for managers in one time zone to spoil the evenings of managers in another.Employees find it ever harder to distinguish between "on-time" and "off-time"—and indeed between real work and make-work.

The Economist

There may be the occasional cry of "drats" when it turns out one won't be getting BOGOF on the cheddar cheese because they didn't put their reading glasses on to check the small print, but at least the whole tedious thing happened with complete, undivided attention for the checkout assistant - and the queue forming behind them.

Independent

If Priebus really were a sitcom dad, he would be shaking his head and saying, "That dratted Donald!" But, in the real world, there is not much that Priebus can do.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider "drat" as a way to soften stronger expletives, making your writing more approachable and less offensive.

Common error

Avoid using "drat" in situations requiring serious or formal language. It can undermine the gravity of the situation and make your tone seem inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "drat" is as an interjection, expressing a sudden feeling of annoyance or frustration. It can also function as a verb, meaning to damn or curse, as illustrated in the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Lifestyle

20%

Books

20%

Less common in

Sport

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Tech

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drat" functions primarily as an interjection or verb to express mild annoyance or frustration. While grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is best suited for informal contexts and should be used sparingly in formal writing. Ludwig's examples from various sources like The New York Times and The Guardian highlight its use in news, books, and lifestyle content, indicating a relatively common yet mild way to express displeasure. Alternatives like "damn" or "shoot" can be used depending on the desired intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rats

A synonymous interjection expressing mild annoyance or frustration.

shoot

A mild expression of annoyance, similar in intensity to "drat".

crud

A more informal expression of annoyance.

damn

A stronger expression of annoyance than "drat".

blast

An expression of frustration or disappointment, slightly stronger than "drat".

oh, bother

A polite and somewhat old-fashioned expression of annoyance.

oh, nuts

A lighthearted expression of mild frustration.

gosh darn it

A somewhat folksy and mild expression of frustration.

jeepers creepers

An old-fashioned and mild exclamation of surprise or annoyance.

well, shucks

An informal and mild expression of disappointment.

FAQs

How can I use "drat" in a sentence?

"Drat" can be used as an interjection, like "Drat! I spilled my coffee", or as a verb, such as "That dratted cat ruined the furniture".

What's a stronger word than "drat"?

While "drat" expresses mild annoyance, stronger alternatives include "damn" or "blast" for more intense frustration.

Is "drat" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "drat" is generally not suitable for formal writing. It's better reserved for informal situations or dialogue where a character might express mild annoyance.

What are some alternatives to "drat" that express similar mild frustration?

Alternatives to "drat" include "shoot", "rats", or "oh bother", all of which convey a similar level of mild displeasure.