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

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

From Slate • Aug. 23, 2023

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

From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2020

“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 I went to Suffolk looking for Frances and her mother who could cook like the dickens.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride