god
( gods plural )
1 n-proper The name God is given to the spirit or being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the world, especially by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
He believes in God..., God bless you.
2 convention People sometimes use God in exclamations to emphasize something that they are saying, or to express surprise, fear, or excitement. This use could cause offence., (emphasis)
God, how I hated him!..., Oh my God he's shot somebody...
3 n-count In many religions, a god is one of the spirits or beings that are believed to have power over a particular part of the world or nature.
...Pan, the God of nature., ...Zeus, king of the gods.
4 n-count Someone who is admired very much by a person or group of people, and who influences them a lot, can be referred to as a god.
To his followers he was a god.
6 If you say God forbid, you are expressing your hope that something will not happen.
♦
God forbid phrase PHR with cl (feelings)
If, God forbid, something goes wrong, I don't know what I would do.
7 You can say God knows, God only knows, or God alone knows to emphasize that you do not know something.
♦
God knows/God only knows/God alone knows phrase PHR wh (emphasis)
Gunga spoke God knows how many languages..., God alone knows what she thinks.
8 If someone says God knows in reply to a question, they mean that they do not know the answer.
♦
God knows phrase
(emphasis)
`Where is he now?' `God knows.'
9 The term a man of God is sometimes used to refer to Christian priests or ministers.
♦
a man of God phrase
10 If someone uses such expressions as what in God's name, why in God's name, or how in God's name, they are emphasizing how angry, annoyed, or surprised they are.
INFORMAL
♦
in God's name phrase
(emphasis)
What in God's name do you expect me to do?..., Why in God's name did you have to tell her?
11 If someone plays God, they act as if they have unlimited power and can do anything they want.
♦
play God phrase V inflects (disapproval)
You have no right to play God in my life!
12 You can use God in expressions such as I hope to God, or I wish to God, or I swear to God, in order to emphasize what you are saying.
♦
to God phrase usu v PHR that (emphasis)
I hope to God they are paying you well..., I wish to God I hadn't met you.
13 If you say God willing, you are saying that something will happen if all goes well.
♦
God willing phrase
God willing, there will be a breakthrough.
14 →
honest to God →
honest →
in the lap of the gods →
lap →
for God's sake →
sake →
thank God →
thank
act of God ( acts of God plural ) An act of God is an event that is beyond human control, especially one in which something is damaged or someone is hurt. n-count
god-awful , godawful
If someone says that something is god-awful, they think it is very unpleasant. This word could cause offence.
INFORMAL adj usu ADJ n (emphasis)
God-fearing
A God-fearing person is religious and behaves according to the moral rules of their religion. adj usu ADJ n
They brought up their children to be God-fearing Christians.
house of God ( houses of God plural ) A Christian church is sometimes referred to as a house of God. n-count
Mother of God
In Christianity, the Mother of God is another name for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. n-proper