dear me

dear me

An expression of surprise or disappointment. Dear me, it seems I've forgotten the casserole I made for tonight's meeting.
See also: dear
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Dear me!

an expression of mild dismay or regret. Sue: Dear me, is this all there is? Mary: There's more in the kitchen. "Oh, dear me!" fretted John, "I'm late again."
See also: dear
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

dear me

Also, oh dear. A polite exclamation expressing surprise, distress, sympathy, etc. For example, Dear me, I forgot to mail it, or Oh dear, what a bad time you've been having. These usages may originally have invoked God, as in dear God or oh God , which also continue to be so used. [Late 1600s]
See also: dear
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

dear me

,

(dear,) oh dear

used for expressing worry, sympathy, concern, etc: Dear me! It’s started to rain and I’ve just hung out the washing!
See also: dear
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • Dear me!
  • dear to (one's) heart
  • an old dear
  • old dear
  • cost (one) dear
  • the dear knows
  • dear
  • ach du lieber
  • lead (one) up the aisle
  • lead someone up the aisle
References in classic literature
Of a night when I was going upstairs to bed, she would invite me into her room, where she sat before the fire in a great chair; and, dear me, she would tell me about Morgan ap-Kerrig until I was quite low-spirited!
Bleak House
Dear me! This is an occasion that makes a man speculate on all he has lost.
Tale Of Two Cities
'Dear me!' said Traddles, considering about it, 'do I strike you in that way, Copperfield?
David Copperfield