What is the exact meaning of the "oh so " idiom?


I routinely find this expression in newspaper, magazines, blogs... My guess is that it's used to report a widely shared opinion, but I couldn't find any confirmation of this. Or maybe it's just used to emphasize the adjective? I'm afraid I might be missing a subtelty here.


Here are a few examples from the first page of googling "oh so *":



  • Paul Ryan's oh-so-clever jab at Jay Cutler

  • Chivas USA came oh so close to getting the first goal of the match

  • The movie-star-handsome [...] stung with that oh-so-direct comeuppance

  • Robert Pattinson Oh So Lonely: 'No One Ever Calls Or Texts Me!'

  • An Oh-So-British Affair Projects a Fresh, Antique Charm

  • LaPorta made an oh-so-costly error in the game

  • Finally, the long, oh so very long flight back to Vancouver


‎



Answer



"Oh-so" means "very", but with the implication of certain emotion. The "oh" caries similar meaning to a sigh. It can imply sarcasm, relief, frustration, etc.


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