god forbid

USAGE SUMMARY

"God forbid" is a phrase that is often used in informal written English.
It is used to express a very strong hope or desire that something bad does not happen. Example: "I hope the storm passes us by, God forbid it damages our house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

God forbid, not Pakistan!

The New Yorker

God forbid!" Solzhenitsyn said.

The New Yorker

Schmaltzy, God forbid?

The New York Times - Magazine

God forbid, cable.

The New York Times - Magazine

JP: God forbid!

The Guardian - Opinion

"God forbid," Sheila says.

The New York Times - Magazine

Or, God forbid, silence.

The Guardian

"God forbid," she said.

The New York Times

God forbid it should rain.

The New York Times

God forbid, but you might.

Yale University

Or god forbid a settee.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "God forbid" to express a strong wish that something negative does not happen. It is often used to introduce a hypothetical, undesirable situation.

Common error

While "God forbid" is widely understood, it might be too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. Consider using a more neutral alternative like "I hope that doesn't happen" or "it is hoped that this does not occur" in formal documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "God forbid" functions primarily as an interjection, expressing a strong wish or hope that something undesirable does not happen. As shown by Ludwig, it introduces a scenario the speaker wishes to avoid.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "God forbid" is a common interjection used to express a strong wish that something negative does not occur. While grammatically correct and widely understood, as validated by Ludwig AI, its usage is more appropriate in neutral to informal contexts. For more formal settings, alternatives like "it is hoped that this does not occur" or "I hope that never happens" may be more suitable. Ludwig's examples show the breadth of its use, particularly in news and media sources. When using "God forbid", ensure that it aligns with the overall tone and formality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heaven forbid

Emphasizes a similar wish to prevent something bad, often used interchangeably with "God forbid".

perish the thought

A dramatic way to reject an idea or possibility, hoping it won't occur.

heaven forfend

A more archaic and formal alternative to "God forbid", conveying a strong desire to prevent something.

may it not be so

A formal and emphatic way of expressing a wish to prevent something.

far be it from me

Expresses reluctance to do or say something, implying a hope to avoid a negative outcome.

I shudder to think

Expresses a fearful reaction to a potential negative outcome.

lest

A more formal conjunction expressing a fear or concern that something undesirable might happen.

hope that never happens

Directly expresses the wish that something does not occur.

I hope not

A simple expression of wishing to avoid a particular outcome.

avoid at all costs

Emphasizes the importance of preventing something, indicating a strong desire to avoid it.

FAQs

How can I use "God forbid" in a sentence?

"God forbid" is typically used to express a strong wish that something negative does not occur. For example, "I'm taking extra precautions, "God forbid" anything should go wrong".

What are some alternatives to saying "God forbid"?

Alternatives include "heaven forbid", "heaven forfend", or phrases like "I hope that doesn't happen" depending on the context.

Is "God forbid" appropriate for formal writing?

While widely understood, "God forbid" can be considered informal. In formal writing, opt for alternatives such as "it is hoped that this does not occur" or "I hope this does not happen".

What does "God forbid" actually mean?

It means "may God prevent it" or "let it not happen". It expresses a strong desire to avoid an undesirable outcome.