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.

Boras and Belly became Boris and Natasha, a joke that hurt the Boys In Blue like the dickens.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2023

The youngster “impressed the dickens out of me,” Eberhart said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 7, 2021

This would not be too bad, except we have very high ceilings and it echoes like the dickens.

From Slate • Jan. 10, 2019

“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

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