we hardly knew ye

phrase

Lamenting a person or thing gone too soon.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. Lamenting a person or thing gone too soon.

    JOE C, WE HARDLY KNEW YE

    2001, CMJ New Music Monthly, page 6

Origin

Probably from the traditional song "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye" (also known as "Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye" or "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya"), first published in 1867.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

we hardly knew ye. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/we%20hardly%20knew%20ye

MLA

“we hardly knew ye.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/we%20hardly%20knew%20ye. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “we hardly knew ye,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/we%20hardly%20knew%20ye.

Source: we hardly knew ye on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.