- "Oh stars. Oh stars, no."
- ―Jedi Master Keeve Trennis, seeing Master Sskeer
Stars was a slang term used to convey a range of emotions, including frustration, shock and excitement. It was especially popular during the High Republic Era.
Description
- "Jedi? Here? Oh my stars!"
"That's what I said!" - ―Two B1-series battle droids on Hissrich
The expression "stars," which literally referred to the plural form of the large celestial body, could be used to express either frustration or excitement. It could be used on its own,[3][4] or as part of a longer interjection, such as:
- By the stars…: Exclamation used to express shock.[1][5]
- For stars' sake: Used to express frustration.[6]
- The luck of the stars: Meaning that something is the result of pure chance.[7]
- Oh my stars: Used to express shock.[5][8][9]
- Oh stars: Exclamation used to express shock.[1][10][11]
- Please stars no: Used to emphasize a strong wish for something to happen, or not to happen, e.g. "please stars no."[12]
- Stars above!: Exclamation of surprise.[13]
- Stars be praised: Used to say that you are pleased something has happened and thank the stars for it.[14]
- Stars' end!: An expression of disbelieving delight,[15] or shock.[16][17]
- Stars preserve me/us: Used to express distaste.[18][19]
- Stars save me: Used to express distaste.[20]
- Thank the stars: An expression of relief.[21][22][23]
- What in stars' name: Used to emphasize surprise.[16]
- What in the stars…: Expression used to express shock or surprise.[24]
Behind the scenes
The use of the exclamation "stars" is similar to various real-world exclamations, most of which include the word "God":
| Star Wars | English counterpart |
| By the stars[1][5] | By God[25] |
| For stars' sake[6] | For God's/Christ's/goodness'/heaven's/Pete's sake[26] |
| The luck of the stars[7] | The luck of the draw[27] |
| Oh my stars[5][8][9] | (Real-world American English interjection)[28] |
| Oh stars[1][10][11] | Oh god![29] |
| Please stars[12] | Please God[30] |
| Stars[3][4] | God![29] |
| Stars be praised[14] | God/heaven be praised[31] |
| Stars preserve me/us[18][19] | God/heaven help me[32] |
| Stars save me[20] | God/heaven help me[32] |
| Thank the stars[21][22][23] | (Real-world interjection)[33] |
| What in stars' name[16] | What in God's/heaven's name[34] |
| What in the stars…[24] | What in the world…[35] |
