oughta

hadn't oughta

slang Should not have. I hadn't oughta stayed out so late last night—I'm exhausted. Sarah is pissed off! You really hadn't oughta said that to her.
See also: oughta

there oughta be a law

Something objectionable that has happened or that someone did should be against the law. ("Oughta" is an informal contraction of "ought to.") How can the flight be overbooked? I paid for a ticket, so I should have a seat on the plane. There oughta be a law! Behavior like that is just disgusting to me. There oughta be a law, I tell you!
See also: law, oughta, there

why I oughta

cliché Used to express anger or frustration with someone, as if one is considering inflicting violence upon them. "Oughta" is a colloquial contraction of "ought to." Typically used humorously. You ate the last chocolate bar! Why I oughta! A: "Whaddya mean you misplaced our money? Why I oughta…" B: "No, wait! I can get you your money, just don't hurt me!"
See also: oughta, why
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hadn't oughta

Inf. should not have. You hadn't oughta teased me like that. I know I hadn't oughta stolen that candy.
See also: oughta
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in classic literature ?
"Dat bloke was a dandy," said Pete, in conclusion, "but he hadn' oughta made no trouble.
View in context
Ye'd oughta see th' swad a' chil'ren I've got, an' all like that."
View in context
"Say, we old Americans oughta stick together, don't you think?
View in context
The public is invited to "Java with Jerry" on Friday to celebrate the "Oughta Be a Law...Or Not" contest winner.
US Senator Hill to honor man who inspired 'Vote-By-Mail' ballot confirm law
Gwyneth Oughta Off P*** (yes, I know the last bit's the wrong way round but I'm confident the sentiment's still there).
Sorry, I just can't Gwyn and bear it
Things quickly changed when a Los Angeles DJ began playing You Oughta Know, the album's first single.
Rock of Ages; No. 1 albums from this week, with Jade Wright
If you think growing up is super tough, you oughta relate to Lizzie McGuire.
What's Hilary thinking? (Hangin' With)
She shot to fame with singles including You Oughta Know, You Learn and Hand In My Pocket and admits some of her new songs tread similar ground, such as relationship break-ups, cheating boyfriends and inner-angst.
COME AND GET ME, GUYS; Alanis Morissette is looking for Mr Right and even has a list of what she likes in men
Because of the success of movies like Dances with Wolves, Pow Wow Highway, and Last of the Mohicans and plays like The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move To Kapiskasing, Aboriginal people were being classified as "flavors of the month." It seemed everybody wanted to write stories about Native people.
Irish surpasses Indians (as `flavour of the month')
They, however, have different interpretations and applications of the dream of "|whut a woman oughta be and to do'" (15), which is to say, they have different interpretations of history.
"'... Ah said Ah'd save de text for you'": recontextualizing the sermon to tell (her)story in Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God.' (Black South Fiction, Art, Culture)
Now, the duo feels the time has come to properly celebrate "They Oughta Write a Song" with its own special CD-release event Saturday at Jo Federigo's.
BRIEFLY
I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs." That oughta teach the old goat to do things my way.
Taking a gander at Mother Goose
Alanis, whose hits include You Oughta Know and Hand In My Pocket, said of her fiance a year ago: "He's just such a supportive creature.
Alanis split from fiancA
``Throughout the movie eve-ryone keeps telling him 'you don't look so good, you oughta go take a nap,'' he grins.
Go ahead, Clint make our day; Veteran star says he'll keep on making movies
You oughta try it sometime." In which case, feel free to let him know you're an expert with a compass.
Tell it don't yell it: How to get what you want the smooth takin' way
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