General
poor dab
What does poor dab mean?
An expression of genuine sympathy — 'poor thing', 'bless him/her'. Reached for when someone's had bad news, fallen ill, or just generally been dealt a rough hand. Said by mams and nans across South Wales with a small shake of the head.
"She's been on her feet all day at work, poor dab."
Origin
Welsh English; 'dab' here is an old affectionate term for a person, possibly related to 'dab hand'.
Frequently asked questions
What does poor dab mean?
Poor dab is a Welsh sympathy phrase meaning "poor thing," said with real warmth and affection.
How do you use poor dab in a sentence?
"She's been poorly all week, poor dab."
Where does poor dab come from?
It's Welsh-English dialect, commonly heard in Wales as a gentle, caring expression of pity.
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