Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A reprimand or expression of anger.
- noun Used as an intensive.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The deuce: used interjectionally, with the definite article (formerly sometimes with the indefinite).
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A vulgar euphemism. The devil.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun euphemistic The
devil . - noun In the phrase the dickens (Used as an intensifier).
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun English writer whose novels depicted and criticized social injustice (1812-1870)
- noun a word used in exclamations of confusion
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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What the dickens is the government trying to do to the US?
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I don't know who in dickens you think you are, but "good American" you certainly are not.
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But who the dickens is it? said Tommy, after shaking hands heartily with Nat.
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But what the dickens is the story behind the hands-on-chest cake?
Otherwise Engaged 2010
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What a dickens is the Woman always a whimpring about Murder for?
The Beggar's Opera 2007
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You know, when -- when Don taught me how to ask a tough question and go after him, they would look at me as, like, you know, what the dickens is the matter with you?
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You know, when -- when Don taught me how to ask a tough question and go after him, they would look at me as, like, you know, what the dickens is the matter with you?
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You know, when -- when Don taught me how to ask a tough question and go after him, they would look at me as, like, you know, what the dickens is the matter with you?
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How the dickens is a fellow to get to sleep while you're playing Punch and Judy in there?
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, December 26, 1891 Various
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"What the dickens is the woman drivelling about?" the General demanded.
The Imaginary Marriage Henry St. John Cooper
brtom commented on the word dickens
"... and then shin for the raft like the dickens was after you!" HF 23
December 7, 2006
oroboros commented on the word dickens
Corruption of "Old Nick" - the Devil. (via NPR's Says You)
August 6, 2011