toe maar, adverbial phrase

Origin:
Afrikaans.
colloquial
An interjection used to comfort or console: ‘there there’; ‘never mind’.
Note:
Often used by writers to suggest the idiom of Afrikaans speech.
[1943 I. Frack S. Afr. DoctorThe husband simply said to me: ‘Toe maar, loop’ (Alright, you can go).]
1959 J. Meiring Candle in Wind 64‘Toe-maar, ou Maggie!’ she said, ‘don’t cry; don’t worry.’
1966 Van Heyningen & Berthoud Uys Krige 146When the farmer stops dead in his conversational tracks, I just say: Toe maar, Oom, it’s nothing, go on...don’t let me interrupt you.’
1968 F.G. Butler Cape Charade 11Toemaar, my skat, dis somaar a nine months stretch on a nine mile stretch of road.
1973 J. Cope Alley Cat 18‘Toe maar!’ the mother soothed her, drawing out the words lovingly. ‘Come here, April. Let me do your hair.’
1973 E. Prov. Herald 12 June 9This is a different noise. Toe maar Boetie, we’ll have to strip it down again.
1979 Daily Dispatch 23 May 11‘The government stands almost powerless before the press,’ he explained...‘Toe maar, we will protect you,’ promised Mr Horace van Rensburg.
‘there there’; ‘never mind’.
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19431979
toe, adjectiveadj.toenadering, verbal nounvbl n.
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