what the Devil en · INTJ
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English what þe devel, what devel.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic, mildly, vulgar) Used to add emphasis to “what” when beginning a question.
What the Devil have you done to the horse?
What the devyll hast thou on thy fyste? An owle?
c. 1515–1516, John Skelton, Magnyfycence; republished in John Scattergood, editor, John Skelton: The Complete English Poems, 1983, →OCLC, page 166, line 922:
Synonyms
what in God's name · what on earth · what the dickens
Translations (9)
ru како́го чёрта (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · fi mitä pirua (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · ro ce dracu (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · de was zum Teufel (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · fr que diable (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · ga cad san diabhal (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · ru что за чёрт (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · ga cad é an diabhal (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question) · io per la diablo (used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question)