whew

[ hwyoo ]

/ ʰwyu /

(a whistling exclamation or sound expressing astonishment, dismay, relief, etc.)

an utterance of “whew.”

Origin of whew

First recorded in 1505–15; imitative

“Whew, that guy,” says Jerry wearily, rising to go out front for his set with the New Riders.

The Stacks: Grateful Dead I Have Known |Ed McClanahan |August 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“But whew,” he says, making a whistling sound and sweeping his hand over his head.

Tea Party’s Next Targets |Daniel Stone, Eleanor Clift |August 7, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
So—whew—the bleeding seems finally to have been staunched, three months after BP stabbed its hole in the bottom of the sea.

The Real Environmental Disaster |Bill McKibben |July 20, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
Then as she dropped the oars for a second she drank in three long breaths of air to at last release a long drawn “Whew!”

Witches Cove |Roy J. Snell

And spends my money, too, on scientific rescue work among women who—whew!

What Will People Say? |Rupert Hughes
"Whew," he whistled as he glanced up and saw her at the little window of the attic.

Patchwork |Anna Balmer Myers
Whew—— "Señor of all the domains, fiefs, keeps and marshes of Warren of Kentucky—"

The Ghost Breaker |Paul Dickey
She drew it out, hastily unrolled it until she saw that a dark plaster lay in the middle, then, with a "Whew!"

Shoulder-Straps |Henry Morford

whew

/ (hwjuː) /

an exclamation or sharply exhaled breath expressing relief, surprise, delight, etc