dickens
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++dick·ens /ˈdɪkənz/ noun spoken old-fashioned 1 what/who/where the dickens ...? spoken old-fashioned SURPRISEDANGRYused when asking a question to show that you are very surprised or angry 到底是什么/谁/在哪儿…？〔表示非常惊讶或愤怒〕 What the dickens is the matter with her? 她到底怎么回事？2 as pretty/smart etc as the dickens spoken old-fashioned VERY American English very pretty, clever etc 非常漂亮/聪明等 Isn’t she as cute as the dickens! 她多么可爱啊！
Examples from the Corpus
dickens• The first is: How the dickens are you getting them in?• Indeed - what the dickens was the matter with her? - she didn't want to be sensible.• What the dickens, so to speak, was he to do?Origin dickens (1500-1600) Perhaps from the name Dickensdick·ens nounChineseSyllable
to question a Corpus used that show when you asking
Dickens
Dickens, Charles
(1812–70) a British writer whose novels made him the most popular British writer of the 19th century, and are still very popular today. His books contain humorous characters with unusual names, many of whom have become very well known. But they also show how hard life was in Victorian England, especially for poor people and children. His books include David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Pickwick Papers.
Dickens, Charles
(1812–70) a British writer whose novels made him the most popular British writer of the 19th century, and are still very popular today. His books contain humorous characters with unusual names, many of whom have become very well known. But they also show how hard life was in Victorian England, especially for poor people and children. His books include David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Pickwick Papers.
dickens
dick‧ens /ˈdɪkənz, ˈdɪkɪnz/ noun spoken old-fashioned
What the dickens is the matter with her?
2. as pretty/smart etc as the dickens American English very pretty, clever etc:
Isn’t she as cute as the dickens!
dick‧ens /ˈdɪkənz, ˈdɪkɪnz/
noun spoken old-fashioned Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Perhaps from the name Dickens
1. what/who/where the dickens ...? used when asking a question to show that you are very surprised or angry:Origin: Perhaps from the name Dickens
2. as pretty/smart etc as the dickens American English very pretty, clever etc: