What does "dear" mean here? And is this general expression??
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
"Oh, dear" is a polite expression used when people are distressed, surprised, or want to show sympathy to someone. It is more polite than similar expressions like, "oh, God," or "dear God." Ex: A: I'm going to be late for work! B: Oh, dear! (expression of sympathy) Ex: Oh dear, I think I broke my phone. (expression of surprise or distress)