What does drat mean?
Drat is an English exclamation used to voice mild annoyance, irritation, or disappointment, as in "Drat! I missed the bus." It functions as a euphemism — a softened substitute for harsher oaths like "damn" — placing it in the family of so-called minced oaths alongside words such as "darn" and "blast." The word emerged in the nineteenth century and became especially associated with polite, everyday speech, giving it a slightly old-fashioned or quaint flavour today. It is entirely inoffensive, which makes it useful in contexts where stronger language would be unwelcome: children's books, family conversation, and light comedy all favour it. While less common among younger speakers than alternatives like "darn" or simply "ugh," drat remains instantly recognisable throughout the English-speaking world and can add a touch of comic gentility to an expression of everyday frustration.
exclamation (interjection)An exclamation used to express mild annoyance, irritation, or disappointment; a euphemistic substitute for stronger oaths such as 'damn'.
- Used as an exclamation to express mild annoyance, irritation, or frustration, typically as a euphemism for a stronger curse word.
"Drat! I've locked my keys in the car again."
"Drat, the printer's out of ink again."
""Oh drat," she said, noticing she had left her umbrella on the train."
'Drat' is a classic minced oath — a polite stand-in for 'damn' that lets you swear without actually swearing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of drat
Drat first appeared in English during the nineteenth century as a euphemistic alteration, or minced oath, standing in for stronger curses such as 'damn'. Its exact derivation is uncertain, but it belongs to the same tradition of softened swearing that produced words like 'darn' and 'shoot', coined precisely so speakers could vent frustration without blasphemy or profanity. It spread through both British and American colloquial speech and remains in use as a deliberately mild, somewhat old-fashioned expletive.
Usage notes
Informal and mildly old-fashioned in tone, though still understood and occasionally used playfully in both British and American English. It carries a genteel, almost quaint connotation and is considered entirely inoffensive, making it suitable in settings where actual profanity would be inappropriate.
Don't confuse with
Draft is a noun or verb meaning a preliminary version of a document or the act of drawing up one (or conscription), whereas drat is an exclamation of mild annoyance.