interjection
oops
OOPS/ʊps/
Used to acknowledge a minor mistake or accident.
Oops, my elbow has knocked the cup over and spilled the water.
Etymology
Oops is recorded as a natural cry of surprise at doing something awkward. Its use after a small mistake reflects that spontaneous reaction, rather than a meaning built from historical components.
In context
map hash map over a b c b and one two three two okay so oops oh hash map with a hyphen
More examples
- Oops, I clicked the wrong button.
- Oops, sorry about spilling water on your notebook.
- Your appointment is Tuesday—oops, I mean Wednesday.
Similar words
- whoops
- Often sounds more playful when acknowledging the same small mishap.