Dickens

/ˈdɪkɪnz/

noun

A lot of something, a great deal or amount.

Why the dickens did you do that?

Often appears as...

what the dickens
why the dickens

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

Used to express surprise, annoyance or confusion.

What the dickens is this?

Often appears as...

what the dickens
how the dickens

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

Charles Dickens, the famous English writer.

I am reading a novel by Dickens.

Often appears as...

dickens novel
dickensian characters

Usage tips

Literary

noun

A lot of something, a great deal or amount.

Why the dickens did you do that?

Often appears as...

what the dickens
why the dickens

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

Used to express surprise, annoyance or confusion.

What the dickens is this?

Often appears as...

what the dickens
how the dickens

Usage tips

Informal

Idiomatic

noun

Charles Dickens, the famous English writer.

I am reading a novel by Dickens.

Often appears as...

dickens novel
dickensian characters

Usage tips

Literary

Definition 1 of 3

Pro Tip 1/3

Expression Intensity

Used to emphasize the strength of a feeling or the degree of a situation.

How the dickens did he lift that heavy box by himself?

Pro Tip 2/3

Emotional Emphasis

Shows strong emotions like frustration, curiosity or disbelief.

Why the dickens are you late again?

Pro Tip 3/3

Outdated Phrase

Less common in modern speech but adds quirky charm to language.

Who the dickens could have taken my umbrella?

Pro Tip 1/3

Expression Intensity

Used to emphasize the strength of a feeling or the degree of a situation.

How the dickens did he lift that heavy box by himself?

Pro Tip 2/3

Emotional Emphasis

Shows strong emotions like frustration, curiosity or disbelief.

Why the dickens are you late again?

Pro Tip 3/3

Outdated Phrase

Less common in modern speech but adds quirky charm to language.

Who the dickens could have taken my umbrella?

Pro Tip 1/3

Expression Intensity

Used to emphasize the strength of a feeling or the degree of a situation.

How the dickens did he lift that heavy box by himself?

Pro Tip 2/3

Emotional Emphasis

Shows strong emotions like frustration, curiosity or disbelief.

Why the dickens are you late again?

Pro Tip 3/3

Outdated Phrase

Less common in modern speech but adds quirky charm to language.

Who the dickens could have taken my umbrella?

Compare with

botherdeucedevilhellmischiefnuisancerascalscoundrel

Look up Compare with

Visual representation of the word "Dickens"

Never forget "Dickens"

Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!

Video examples

People, Plants and...

Dickens are as apt today as ever we do live in the best of times and we've seen some of those best of times in the technology and the healthcare and the amazing stuff that we learn and know and explore about our world but we also live

Video examples

People, Plants and...

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Robert Gottlieb

American Writer

Dickens was born in 1812 and died in 1870, having produced fifteen novels, many of which can confidently be called great, as well as having accomplished outstanding work in activities into which his insatiable need to expend his vast energies - to achieve, to prevail - carried him: journalism, editing, acting, social reform.

Quote examples

Robin Sloan

American Author

It turns out you can train a neural network on a big body of text. It can be Wikipedia; it can be all the works of Charles Dickens; it could be all of the Internet. They can use grammar and put words together in interesting and convincing ways - and, I think, unexpected and beautiful ways.

Quote examples

Dustin Hoffman

American Actor

If you have this enormous talent, it's got you by the balls, it's a demon. You can't be a family man and a husband and a caring person and be that animal. Dickens wasn't that nice a guy.

Quote examples

Douglas Booth

English Actor

Dickens writes such brilliant characters and stories, and his themes and social commentary are still so relevant. I think that's why he's still so loved today.

Quote examples

Anne Rice

American Novelist

Dickens is a very underrated writer at the moment. Everyone in his time admired him but I think right now he's not spoken of enough.

Quote examples

Claire Tomalin

English Author

Dickens had more energy than anyone in the world, and he expected his sons to be like him, and they couldn't be.

Quote examples

Michael Caine

English Actor

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.

Quote examples

Terry Pratchett

English Author

Dickens, as you know, never got round to starting his home page.

Quote examples

George Orwell

British Author

Dickens is one of those authors who are well worth stealing.

Quote examples

Xavier Becerra

American Politician

I will fight like the dickens to protect Social Security.

Quote examples

Robert Gottlieb

American Writer

Dickens was born in 1812 and died in 1870, having produced fifteen novels, many of which can confidently be called great, as well as having accomplished outstanding work in activities into which his insatiable need to expend his vast energies - to achieve, to prevail - carried him: journalism, editing, acting, social reform.

Quote examples

Robin Sloan

American Author

It turns out you can train a neural network on a big body of text. It can be Wikipedia; it can be all the works of Charles Dickens; it could be all of the Internet. They can use grammar and put words together in interesting and convincing ways - and, I think, unexpected and beautiful ways.

Quote examples

Dustin Hoffman

American Actor

If you have this enormous talent, it's got you by the balls, it's a demon. You can't be a family man and a husband and a caring person and be that animal. Dickens wasn't that nice a guy.

Quote examples

Douglas Booth

English Actor

Dickens writes such brilliant characters and stories, and his themes and social commentary are still so relevant. I think that's why he's still so loved today.

Quote examples

Anne Rice

American Novelist

Dickens is a very underrated writer at the moment. Everyone in his time admired him but I think right now he's not spoken of enough.

Quote examples

Claire Tomalin

English Author

Dickens had more energy than anyone in the world, and he expected his sons to be like him, and they couldn't be.

Quote examples

Michael Caine

English Actor

Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.

Quote examples

Terry Pratchett

English Author

Dickens, as you know, never got round to starting his home page.

Quote examples

George Orwell

British Author

Dickens is one of those authors who are well worth stealing.

Quote examples

Xavier Becerra

American Politician

I will fight like the dickens to protect Social Security.

Example 1 of 10

WordUp Chrome Extension

As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.

Get Chrome Extension