the dickens

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There now are about a dozen post offices, he said, and it feels like “they’re trying like the dickens to shut those down.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2020

He knows that “An Inconvenient Truth” scared the dickens out of some people.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2017

“He’s a human being. Little mistakes are made, different words are used – and everybody does it. As far as I can see, he’s trying the dickens to do a good job.”

From The Guardian • May 19, 2017

So why the dickens would he say incorrectly that Nevada’s voters are 80 percent white in a state that’s sparsely polled but when it is polled shows her well into the clear?

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2016

And this London address you’ve given me—what the dickens are you doing there?

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin