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.
The play is called “Love of the Game” because, basically, the receiver just runs like the dickens and hopes to draw enough attention to free up other receivers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2022
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
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
