God forfend: Idiom Meaning and Origin

The idiom "God forbid" is a related expression that shares a similar meaning and purpose to "God forfend." Both phrases are used to express a strong desire or prayer that something undesirable never happens. While "God forfend" emphasizes the act of invoking divine protection, "God forbid" simply states a fervent wish that God would prevent a specific outcome.

The phrase "heaven forbid" is another idiom that can be used interchangeably with "God forbid" or "God forfend." Just like the previous expressions, "heaven forbid" is employed to convey a strong aversion or wish for something to never occur. The addition of "heaven" in the phrase highlights the desire for a heavenly force to intervene and prevent the undesirable outcome.

Although the idiom "a cold day in July" may not seem directly related to "God forfend," their connection lies in the expression of rarity or unlikelihood. When someone says "a cold day in July," they are referring to an event or situation that is highly improbable or unlikely to happen. Similarly, "God forfend" can be used to express the fervent wish for an event to be averted because it is highly undesirable or improbable.

"for goodness' sake" is another idiomatic phrase that can be associated with "God forfend." While the former is commonly used to express frustration or exasperation, it shares the same principle of invoking a higher power to prevent something undesirable. "For goodness' sake" signifies the plea for the sake of goodness or righteousness, highlighting the desire for a positive outcome or avoidance of something negative.

The idiom "first of never" is an expression that denotes extreme unlikelihood or impossibility. It refers to something that will never happen or occur. Although it may not seem immediately related to "God forfend," both phrases convey a sense of urgency and plea against a specific undesirable event. "First of never" emphasizes the impossibility, while "God forfend" calls upon divine intervention to prevent it from happening.

It is fascinating how idiomatic expressions like "God forfend" can be connected to other related phrases to amplify their meanings and convey different nuances. These idioms, including "God forbid," "heaven forbid," "a cold day in July," "for goodness' sake," and "first of never," share a common thread of invoking a higher power or expressing a strong aversion to prevent undesired outcomes or events. By utilizing these idioms, speakers can convey their hopes, desires, and concerns with more depth and impact.