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.

And how the dickens did he get on the debate stage?

From Slate • Aug. 23, 2023

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

Partch and others have been trying like the dickens to save it.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2020

“I thought, ‘What in the dickens is that?’ ” he said in his video account.

From Washington Post • Dec. 5, 2016

After all the bragging I had done about what a good monkey catcher I was, I hated like the dickens to go and face him, but I couldn’t just run away.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls