noun
Uncommon
dickens
DIH-kihnz
Dickens (noun) means used in exclamations as a mild stand-in for "the devil," expressing surprise or frustration. Example: “What the dickens is going on here?”
noun
1
Used in exclamations as a mild stand-in for "the devil," expressing surprise or frustration.
"What the dickens is going on here?"
"She gave him a scare, that’s for sure — scared the dickens out of him."
How to use dickens
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, mild swear substitute, as in "what the dickens."
When to use it
Dated and mild — used for comic effect rather than genuine offense.
Common pairings
what the dickens
scare the dickens out of
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Etymology
Dates from the late 1500s as a playful use of "Dicken," a pet form of the name Dick — unrelated to the novelist Charles Dickens.
Class of 1500
dickens joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dickens
See all rhymes for dickens →Frequently asked questions
What does “dickens” mean?
The word “dickens” means used in exclamations as a mild stand-in for "the devil," expressing surprise or frustration. In plain terms, an old-fashioned, mild swear substitute, as in "what the dickens.".
How do you pronounce “dickens”?
“Dickens” is pronounced DIH-kihnz (/ˈdɪkɪnz/ in IPA).
How do you use “dickens” in a sentence?
Here is “dickens” used in a sentence: “What the dickens is going on here?”
What is another word for “dickens”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dickens” include on earth, the hell, the devil and the heck.
What part of speech is “dickens”?
“Dickens” is a noun.
Where does the word “dickens” come from?
The word “dickens” dates back to around 1500. Dates from the late 1500s as a playful use of "Dicken," a pet form of the name Dick — unrelated to the novelist Charles Dickens.
Is “dickens” a common word?
“Dickens” is an uncommon word in modern English.
