Yipes

Part of speech: interjection

Definitions

1. An exclamation uttered in response to sudden shock, fright, or alarm
2. A cry expressing startled fear or astonishment at something unexpected
3. An interjection used to express sudden surprise or apprehension

Etymology: "Yipes" is an exclamation of alarm, a sound more than a word with a traceable classical ancestry. It belongs to a group of American expressions of surprise or fright, such as "yikes," and it is closely tied to the yelping sound that "yip" describes. Its spelling reflects how the cry is spoken, which is typical of interjections. Because such words arise in speech, their precise origins are hard to pin down. "Yipes" seems to have spread through informal and comic writing, where it was used to show a character's sudden shock in a way that could be written quickly and read at a glance. Its exact first appearance and the route by which it became established are not well documented, so any more specific claim would be speculation.

Synonyms: yikes, yikes