An informal contracted form of 'I'm afraid so', used to confirm something unwelcome or disappointing with a tone of resigned sympathy. The phrase softens a negative answer — acknowledging the other person's disappointment while confirming the bad news. Used widely in casual British and American English across generations. The elision of 'I'm' and the softening 'afraid' together give it a polite, apologetic quality that makes it more socially graceful than a flat 'yes'. Typically delivered with a slight shrug in tone.
'Is the last train really gone?' — ''Fraid so — you'll have to get a cab.'
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An informal contraction of I am afraid so, used to confirm something the listener was hoping not to hear. The I'm afraid so construction is itself a polite softener for a negative answer; 'fraid so clips it further into a casual, almost breezy acknowledgment. Common in conversational British and American English, particularly in contexts where the speaker wants to confirm bad news without excessive drama.
Asked if the last train had gone, the station worker just shrugged and said, 'fraid so.
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(slang) I am afraid so.
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