shoulda

coulda, shoulda, woulda

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about a past experience. (Formed from informal shortenings of "could have, should have, would have.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation. Oh well—coulda, shoulda, woulda. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, coulda, shoulda, woulda. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: woulda

coulda, woulda, shoulda

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about a past experience. (Formed from informal shortenings of "could have, would have, should have.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation, but coulda, woulda, shoulda. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, coulda, woulda, shoulda. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: shoulda

I shoulda stayed in bed

I should not have bothered doing this because it wasn't worth the time or effort. "Shoulda" is a colloquial shortening of "should have." Primarily heard in US. We got trounced at our football game this morning—I shoulda just stayed in bed. A: "So, what did you think of the opera, Dad?" B: "Eh, waste of a Sunday if you ask me. I shoulda stayed in bed."
See also: bed, shoulda, stay

I shoulda stood in bed

I should not have bothered doing this because it wasn't worth the time or effort. The phrase, a pun on "I should have stayed in bed," is attributed to Joe Jacobs, who was quoted as saying it after attending a baseball game. Primarily heard in US. We got trounced at our football game this morning—I shoulda just stood in bed. A: "So, what did you think of the opera, Dad?" B: "Eh, waste of a Sunday if you ask me. I shoulda stood in bed."
See also: bed, shoulda, stood

shoulda, coulda, woulda

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about a past experience. (Formed from informal shortenings of "should have, could have, would have.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation. Oh well—shoulda, coulda, woulda. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, shoulda, coulda, woulda. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: woulda

shoulda, woulda, coulda

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about a past experience. (Formed from informal shortenings of "should have, would have, could have.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation. Oh well—shoulda, woulda, coulda. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, shoulda, woulda, coulda. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: coulda

would have, should have, could have

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about past actions or the lack thereof. (Often shortened as "would've, should've, could've.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation. Oh well—would have, should have, could have. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, would've, should've, could've. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: could, have, should

woulda, coulda, shoulda

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about a past experience. (Formed from informal shortenings of "would have, could have, should have.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation. Oh well—woulda, coulda, shoulda. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, woulda, coulda, shoulda. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: shoulda

woulda, shoulda, coulda

Used to dismiss one's or someone else's regrets or worries about a past experience. (Formed from informal shortenings of "would have, should have, could have.") I wish I had given myself an extra day off before going back to work after my vacation. Oh well—woulda, shoulda, coulda. A: "Should I have said more during that presentation?" B: "Eh, woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's over now, so there's nothing more you can do."
See also: coulda
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

I shoulda stood in bed

I shouldn't have bothered. This remark came from prizefight manager Joe Jacobs, who in 1935 saw his first baseball game, the opening game of the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. It was a very cold day, and when asked what he thought of baseball, Jacobs replied, “I should have stood in bed.” The Cubs might have heeded that advice, because despite winning that opening game, they went on to lose the Series four games to two.
See also: bed, shoulda, stood
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • coulda, shoulda, woulda
  • coulda, woulda, shoulda
  • could have, should have, would have
  • could have, would have, should have
  • could of, should of, would of
  • could of, would of, should of
  • should of, could of, would of
  • should of, would of, could of
  • would of, could of, should of
  • would of, should of, could of
References in periodicals archive
Homemaking artiste Martha Stewart said that one chapter of her upcoming autobiography is titled "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda.
Martha Stewart's 'Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda'
Shoulda, woulda, coulda but, aye, it's gut-wrenching."
DUBS DEFEAT WAS HARD TO SWALLOW
KILLARNEY: 1.55 Tennesse Waltz, 2.25 Justina, 2.55 Zihba, 3.30 Shoulda Lied, 4.05 Millford Sound, 4.35 King Pellinor, 5.10 War Diary.
THE LAIRD'S TOP TIPS
And Wolverhampton's Beverley Knight performed Memory from Cats, Shoulda Woulda Coulda before closing the party with Whitney Houston's, I'm Every Woman.
Bev on song at party for Hippodrome
Shoulda died: Years ago almost fell down an escalator in Walmart
ZACH ALLEN
A lot of 'shoulda, coulda and woulda' in the life of Ryan.
'Blackjack' Jack Ryan
Not the ones you shoulda, or the Coulda-Woulda, which was a minor hit for Ted Heath and his Orchestra.
Nuno looks due a break; BETTING SPY; ALEX HANKIN UNEARTHS SOME WEEKEND STONKERS AND STINKERS
So set in a context of all the woulda, shoulda, couldas this result stands out.
WHAT WE LEARNED; BRIAN DICK
(https://twitter.com/NJLaLa/status/997853645558501377) Lanette Espy shared another shot of Davy holding the collar of her dress as if she's calming herself with a tagline that read "It SHOULDA BEEN ME!!" "#PrinceHarry's ex #ChelsyDavy at the #RoyalWedding ...
Chelsy Davy Toys With A Gold Ring With Beau After Royal Wedding
The shoulda, woulda, coulda of the situation haunts me every single day.
Iza Calzado, in losing favorite pet, calls for reduced plastic container use
Steve, I shoulda' put in a "Part 1" on that article as Duke made it clear he needed another article to "finish" things, as he put it.
Swing And A Miss?
Beverley, whose hits include Shoulda Coulda Woulda, has now forged a career on stage and as a radio DJ.
Tumours shock for Beverley
Wolverhampton singer Beverley, known for hits such as Soul Survivor, Come As You Are and Shoulda Woulda Coulda, has turned West End star.
Soul star Beverley will cast her spell over Hippodrome panto..
Near misses, close shaves, coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Former Red targets have failed to make an impression