woulda, coulda, shoulda meaning: definition

woulda, coulda, shoulda

phrase

Etymology Derisively mimics the frequent perfect conditional forms (I would have done this and that) which are used when discussing events that may have occurred in the past.

An expression of dismissiveness or disappointment concerning a statement, question, explanation, course of action, or occurrence involving hypothetical possibilities, uncertain facts, or missed opportunities.

President Clinton . . . had his clear shot at health-care reform, if we need it, he and his wife, but they blew it. As Mrs. Clinton might say, woulda coulda shoulda.1995 November 17, A. M. Rosenthal, “The Great Botch-Up”, in New York Times, retrieved 16 Jun 2015:
Rahlves described the team's overall skiing performance here as, "woulda, shoulda, coulda—all that stuff. It sucks—we definitely came up very short."2006 February 21, Mike Rowbottom, “Retirement talk works wonders for Dorfmeister”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 16 Jun 2015:

2 more examples

[S]uch a contentious reading of the 87-line tablet depends on creative interpretation of a smudged passage, making it the latest entry in the woulda/coulda/shoulda category of possible New Testament artifacts.2008 July 7, David Van Biema, Tim McGirk, “Was Jesus' Resurrection a Sequel?”, in Time, retrieved 16 Jun 2015:
[H]e was talking about last night’s game and what it would have meant to have this roster last spring. . . . “Shoulda, coulda, woulda” he started. “If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas, right?”2014 December 18, Doug Smith, “Three things to ponder from easy Raptors win”, in Toronto Star, Canada, retrieved 18 Jun 2015:

Related terms: could have, would have, should have

woulda, coulda, shoulda

noun

Etymology Derisively mimics the frequent perfect conditional forms (I would have done this and that) which are used when discussing events that may have occurred in the past.

Idiomatic, Informal An instance or moment of regret, hindsight, or futile pondering over a missed opportunity.

But there a lot of talented people right down there on the street, singing their shoulda-coulda-wouldas, now is that how you wanna end up?1993, Bill Duke (director), Sister Act 2, spoken by Florence Watson (Sherry Lee Ralph):
And, Dr. Lovett, would I be correct in saying that your basic complaint is, if you will allow me to characterize it as a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" in terms of lost opportunities and it isn't a good deal and we are not smart doing it, but that you do not take a fundamental position that the U.S. sov- ereignty is cashed in under this agreement?1994, United States, Congress, House, Committee on Ways and Means, The World Trade Organization, Hearing Before the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, Second Session, June 10, 1994 · Volume 4, page 113:

3 more examples

All the woulda-coulda-shouldas layin' in the sun, Talkin' 'bout the things they woulda-coulda-shoulda done... But those woulda-coulda-shouldas all ran away and hid, From one little did.1996, Shel Silverstein, Falling Up:
Woulda, coulda, shouldas can imprison a new mother and rob her of all joy and pride at becoming a mother.1997, Vicki Iovine, The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood, page 87:
Gopnik defines counterfactuals as "the woulda-coulda-shouldas of life, all the things that might happen in the future, but haven't yet, or that could have happened in the past, but didn't quite."2023, Marcia Walsh, How to Leave a Narcissist in 30 Days Or Less, A Story of Heart, Hope, and Healing:

Related terms: the road to hell is paved with good intentions, too little, too late