heaven forbid

alternative Heaven forbid

1. idiomaticMay heaven forbid it: expresses the desire that something does not happen.

   Could it be that the endorsement that he had been waiting for was not forthcoming? Could it be that he had been asked to amend his Budget? Heaven forbid!

   1999 October 7, Joseph Yam, “A tribute to Philip Haddon-Cave”, in Hong Kong Monetary Authority

   2 more examples

   "Now, by Our Lady's grace," cried the Butcher, "well do I know thy name, and many a time have I heard thy deeds both sung and spoken of. But Heaven forbid that thou shouldst take aught of me! An honest man am I, and have wronged neither man nor maid; so trouble me not, good master, as I have never troubled thee." "Nay, Heaven forbid, indeed," quoth Robin, "that I should take from such as thee, jolly fellow! Not so much as one farthing would I take from thee, for I love a fair Saxon face like thine right well—more especially when it cometh from Locksley Town, and most especially when the man that owneth it is to marry a bonny lass on Thursday next. But come, tell me for what price thou wilt sell me all of thy meat and thy horse and cart."

   1883, Howard Pyle, chapter V, in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood […], New York, N.Y.: […] Charles Scribner’s Sons […], →OCLC

   Here’s the worst case scenario: You’ve just wasted your time on a few meaningless Tinder messages and not an actual date—or heaven forbid, a full-blown relationship.

   2023 March 6, Alexis Jones, Megan Schaltegger, “These Tinder Conversation Starters Actually Work, According To Dating Experts”, in Women's Health

   Synonyms: heaven forfend, God forbid, God forbid, heaven forfend, absit omen, God forfend, lo aleinu · Antonyms: God willing