- An interjection used to express relief after a difficult, stressful, dangerous, or unpleasant situation has ended.
- Can also express tiredness after exertion.
Explanation
Origin
- Onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of exhaling sharply, often associated with relief or exhaustion.
- The spelling variation (Phew vs. Whew) doesn't change the meaning or sound significantly.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Close one.
- That was hairy. (Meaning risky or dangerous)
Milder:
- Oh, good.
- Glad to hear it.
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally informal, but can be used in most situations where expressing personal relief is acceptable.
- Might seem unprofessional if overused in very formal settings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood, as the context usually makes the meaning clear. The sound itself conveys relief.
Examples
- Phew, I thought I lost my keys!
- Whew, that was a close call with that car.
- Finished the marathon. Phew, I'm exhausted.
Dialogue
Person A: Did you finish the report before the deadline?
Person B: Just barely! Sent it with one minute to spare. Phew.
Person A: Whew, that was cutting it close!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Just submitted my thesis proposal. Phew! #GradLife #Relief
- Facebook Post: Power just came back on after the storm. Whew. Hope everyone else is okay!
- Comment: Phew! Glad you found your wallet!
Response Patterns
- Agreement: Yeah, tell me about it. / I know, right? / That was close.
- Inquiry: What happened? / Are you okay?
- Shared relief: You can say that again.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Phew:
- Ask for details: What was that about? or What happened?
- Express shared relief: Glad that's over.
After saying Phew:
- Often followed by a statement explaining the reason for relief: Phew... I thought I failed the test.
- Might take a moment to recover (e.g., sit down, take a deep breath).
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually a reaction within a conversation or immediately after an event.
Intonation
- Typically a long, drawn-out sound with falling intonation, mimicking a sigh of relief or exhaustion. PHEEEWWW.
- Can sometimes have a slightly sharper, quicker sound if the relief is sudden.
Generation Differences
- Used across most generations.
Regional Variations
- Widely understood in all English-speaking regions. Whew might be slightly more common in American English.