if only
I wish (that). If only I had left the house 10 minutes earlier, I would have gotten to the store before they closed! A: "So, will you be going on any exotic vacations this summer?" B: "If only!"
if only
I wish that. For example, If only I had known you were coming I would have met your plane, or If only it would snow on Christmas Eve. [c. a.d. 1000] For a synonym, see would that.
if ˈonly
used to express a wish that something had happened or would happen: If only she’d done what I told her, she wouldn’t be in this trouble.If only you’d let me explain.