oh, the humanity

Meanings

1. Said in dismay, often sarcastically.

Etymology

Originated from U.S. broadcaster Herbert Morrison (1905–1989) during his coverage of the Hindenburg disaster: "This is terrible! This is one of the worst of the worst catastrophes in the world! Oh, it's—it's—it's flames... climbing—Oh!—four- or five-hundred feet into the sky; and it—it's a terrific crash, ladies and gentlemen. There's smoke; and there's flames, now; and the frame is crashing to the ground, not quite to the mooring-mast. Oh, the humanity; and all the passengers screaming around here! [Emphasis added]"