que voulez-vousint.
/kə ˌvuːleɪˈvuː/, U.S. /kə ˌvuleɪˈvu/ Expressing mild exasperation or resignation: ‘what do you expect?’, ‘what can one expect?’.Frequently in representations of the English of a French speaker, or in French contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > irritation > expression of irritation [interjection]
when1592
pshaw1607
que voulez-vous1841
psht1868
what the Hanover1902
gah1917
give me strength1923
for crying out loud1924
the mind > emotion > indifference > [phrase] > expression of resignation
que voulez-vous1841
1830 C. Clairmont Let. 28 Mar. in J. Marshall Life & Lett. Mary Shelley (1889) II. xxi. 202 He [sc. Trelawny] receives all his impressions through his heart, I through my head. Que voulez vous? Le moyen de se recontrer when one is bound for the North Pole and the other for the South?]
1841 W. M. Thackeray in Britannia 5 June 363/2 No doubt she was dancing away last night..and finished the morning at the Courtille. Que voulez vous? it is her nature.
1880 G. Gissing Let. 21 Dec. in J. Korg George Gissing (1965) iii. 90 I fear they put me down for a prig, an upstart, an abominable aristocrat, but que voulez-vous?
1923 W. J. Locke Moordius & Co. xxi. 288 Que voulez-vous, mademoiselle? A train-omnibus stopping at every station is bound to be late.
1945 ‘O. Malet’ My Bird Sings i. v. 37 The poor Comte is hopelessly in love..but que voulez-vous? She will not have him.
1995 Times (Nexis) 22 May I would also have been far happier at the Majestic, slap bang on La Croisette, Cannes' golden mile. But que voulez-vous? This is Festival.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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int.1841