the dickens
idiom
informal + old-fashioned
—used to make a statement or question more forceful
What the dickens do you mean?
We'll have to work like the dickens to finish this project.
(US) It scared/frightened the dickens out of people.
(US) She's as cute as the dickens.
Examples of the dickens in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Where to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas: Disney+ 15 of 15
A Christmas Carol
The OG ghost story that started it all scared the dickens out of people when Charles Dickens released it in 1843.
—
Huntley Woods, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023
The OG ghost story that started it all scared the dickens out of people when Charles Dickens released it in 1843.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Huntley Woods, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023
The OG ghost story that started it all scared the dickens out of people when Charles Dickens released it in 1843.
—Huntley Woods, EW.com, 20 Oct. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near the dickens
Cite this Entry
“The dickens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20dickens. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share