Woe betide him

Question

Woe betide him who arrives late!Why we don't say "woe betides" him since woe has its plural woes?Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

It's a fixed expression -- an abbreviated form with initial let or may missing. Both let and may govern the bare infinitive, so betide does not change to betides.

Let woe betide him ...
May woe betide him ...
It's somewhat like an imperative used as a warning.
If, however, you want to express the habitual fact, not a warning, you can use betides:
Woe betides him who arrives late.
But it is rare to use this fixed expression in any other context than as a warning, so you will almost always hear it with betide.
CJ

Abil · Answer

Got it. Thanks Mr. CJ

Woe betide him

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