perish the thought

English

Etymology

From the obsolete transitive sense perish (“to cause to perish”), itself possibly from a misunderstanding of the subjunctive mood in set phrases (i.e. "[may it] perish, the thought") taken as transitive.

Phrase

perish the thought

  1. May the thought perish; said of an idea or suggestion that is deeply undesirable.
    • 1885, Horatio Alger, Hector's Inheritance, ch. 13:
      What! was he to lose his hold over these boys, and that because he was unable to cope with a boy much smaller and younger than himself? Perish the thought!
    • 2007 June 22, Grace Dent, The Guardian, G2, p. 3:
      According to industry gossips, Richard and Judy may soon go their separate ways. Not maritally; no, perish the thought.

References
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