WebDec 18, 2001 · Posted by ESC on January 12, 2001: "Dickens" is a euphemism for "devil" as in "'what the dickens,'.an expression common centuries before Charles Dickens was born, … WebSep 12, 2007 · What the deuce is a synonym of what the dickens. A homonym of deuce “devil” is deuce “two at dice or cards.”. Deuce “two” goes back to Old French deus (Modern French deux ), from Latin duos, the accusative of duo. Deuce “devil” is of Northern German origin, in which wat de duus ..! has been recorded (in High German the phrase is ...
The saying
WebAug 15, 2024 · dickens. exclamation, "the Devil!," used with the definite article, formerly with the indefinite, 1590s, apparently a substitute for devil; probably altered from Dickon, the old nickname for Richard and source of the surnames Dickens and Dickenson, but if so the exact derivation and meaning are unknown.Century Dictionary points to Low German … WebWhat's the origin of the phrase 'Like the dickens'? This phrase has nothing to do with Charles Dickens. Dickens is a euphemism, specifically a minced-oath, for the word devil, possibly via devilkins. Shakespeare used 'dickens' in 'the Merry Wives of Windsor, 1600: I cannot tell what the dickens his name is my husband had him of. See other ... don hiney
Charles Dickens Biography, Books, Characters, Facts, & Analysis
WebQ From Jan Walsh: Do you know where the phrase hurts like the dickens comes from?. A Let’s focus in on dickens as the important word here, since there are lots of different expressions with it in, such as what the dickens, where the dickens, the dickens you are!, and the dickens you say!. It goes back a lot further than Charles Dickens, though it does … WebNov 16, 2024 · Did you stub your toe on the door? You could say it hurts “like the Dickens” to describe the pain. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning. The expression “like the Dickens” is an intensifier used to replace other, more offensive language.Its original use was as a replacement for “the devil,” as in, “it hurts like the Devil,” … WebDefinition of scares the dickens out of me in the Idioms Dictionary. scares the dickens out of me phrase. What does scares the dickens out of me expression mean? Definitions by the … city of corvallis water service