well, well

English

Interjection

well, well

1. (current in UK, but dated in the US and Canada) Synonym of well, well, well

   Well, well. What have we here?

   (with sarcasm) Well, well. Look who's back. And they said we'd never see him again.

   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:

     Wel, wel (Meander) thou art deepely read:
     And hauing thee, I haue a iewell ſure:
     Go on my Lord, and giue your charge I ſay,
     Thy wit wil make vs Conquerors to day.

   • 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days

     Well, well, we must bide our time. Life isn't all beer and skittles; […]

See also

• hmm