Dictionary

damsel in distress en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈdæm.zəl ɪn dɪˈstɹɛs/

Etymology

Calque of French demoiselle en détresse, from the classic theme in many dramatic forms.

Meanings

1. A young woman perceived as being helpless in a dangerous situation and requiring rescue.
   • I am not a pretty girl / That is not what I do / I ain't no damsel in distress / And I don't need to be rescued 1995, Ani DiFranco, “Not a Pretty Girl”, in Not a Pretty Girl:
   • 'Sort of damsel in distress,' said the romantic Strangways. 'Good show. According to the CIA she's a corker.' 1954, Ian Fleming, “The Undertaker's Wind”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 190:
   • The damsel-in-distress archetype probably conjures up images of delicate maidens and chivalrous gentlemen. That is precisely what it is designed to do — for white people. 2020 May 27, Ruby Hamad, “A White Damsel Leveraged Racial Power and Failed”, in New York Times:

Forms

Deriveds

didcap

Translations (33)

pt donzela em apuros (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · sv jungfru i fara (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · ar فَتَاة فِي مِحْنَة (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · nl dame in nood (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · pl dama w opałach (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · it damigella in pericolo (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · bg мома́ в беда́ (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · oc domaisèla en perilh (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · hi संकट में युवती (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · nl jonkvrouw in nood (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · it fanciulla in pericolo (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · th สาวเอ๊าะเดือดร้อน (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · pt donzela em perigo (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · bg дево́йка в беда́ (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · ko 곤경에 빠진 아가씨 (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · de Jungfrau in Nöten (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · uk діва у біді (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · sv jungfru i nöd (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · eo savendulino (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · br dimezell en enkrez (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · oc domaisèla en malparat (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · ru пресле́дуемая де́ва (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · fi neito pulassa (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · ru де́ва в беде́ (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · sv dam i nöd (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · eo savota fraŭlino (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · ca donzella en perill (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · fr demoiselle en détresse (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · sv flicka i trångmål (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · es damisela en apuros (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · ja 囚われの姫君 (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · cmn 英雄救美 (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.) · de verfolgte Unschuld (young woman perceived as being in a dangerous situation.)