what the heck
90
8.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
qué demonios
- What the heck are you doing?
- what the heck happened
- I don't know what the heck
- what the heck was he thinking
And I said, what the heck, let's do it.
- And I said, what the heck, let's do it.
- So to find out what the heck is going on, keep watching.
- So we start plotting out what the heck we're going to do.
- And Brad, what the heck is his last name?
- OK, what the heck is this dinner conversation about?
- God starts wondering what the heck is going on now.
- Let's get started with what the heck just happened.
Examples
-
What the heck is going on around here?
-
Is there anyone who can tell us what the heck is going on?
Blog text (10) -
So all right, what the heck is going on over there?
-
So to find out what the heck is going on, keep watching.
-
OK, what the heck is this dinner conversation about?
-
Tom, what the heck is happening out there?
-
Like, I don't know what the heck you guys are talking about.
-
I am sure LSU is watching this and thinking, "What the heck is wrong with us?"
Blog text (11) -
What the heck are you doin' here?
-
So all right, what the heck is going on over there?
Synonyms
∞
8.2
A short sound that shows you do not believe what someone said
∞
7.2
To say when surprised or when you want someone to stop suddenly
422
7.5
A small amount of care or worry about something
391
9.4
A word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or concern
347
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
68
9.8
A short phrase showing surprise and not believing what someone said
65
9.7
A strong expression showing anger, surprise, or urgency
26
9.9
A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked
24
9.9
A word people say to show mild surprise
14
8.8
A short cry people use to show surprise or amazement
14
9.9
A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked
13
7.4
Shows surprise or mild doubt about what someone just said
13
9.9
A short sound people make when they feel frustrated, annoyed, or surprised
8
7.6
A short phrase people say to show surprise or disbelief
8
2.6
Words people say when they are surprised to see something
5
7.5
A short phrase people say to show surprise or shock
5
9.9
A short word people say to show surprise, discomfort, or mild disgust at something awkward
4
9.9
A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance
4
9.5
A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked
4
9.5
A phrase said to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance
3
8.4
A short sound people make when they suddenly understand something
3
9.6
To say when you are very surprised or shocked
2
9.9
An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something
2
7.0
To show surprise, shock or disbelief in a mild, polite way
1
9.9
A short informal spelling of what used online to show confusion
1
9.9
Feeling very surprised by something unexpected
1
9.9
Say it when you suddenly feel upset or annoyed about a mistake
A short informal way people use to show surprise, confusion, or disbelief
A short phrase people say to show surprise or confusion
A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something
An informal phrase people say to show surprise or disbelief
A strong spoken reaction showing surprise and disbelief
To say or write a short exclamation to show surprise
A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something
A short shout to show surprise or amazement
A word people say to show strong surprise
A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance
A short shout people use when they feel surprised or frustrated
A way to say you are surprised or do not believe something
Said to show surprise or doubt
A short shout showing surprise, alarm, or disbelief
A short phrase showing mild surprise or worry said in a playful way
How Strong
- Offensive
- NSFW
347
8.9
- Informal
90
8.9
- Informal
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The expression is compositionally built from the exclamative 'what' plus the intensifier 'heck'; a learner who knows 'what' and the exclamatory force of 'heck' can infer it expresses surprise, disbelief, or confusion. The article 'the' is largely filler in this pattern, and the 'what the X' exclamative construction is productive and cross-linguistically familiar, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.
Etymology
What the heck comes from older, stronger phrases like what the hell or what the devil, with heck used as a softer, less rude word. Saying What the heck gives a quick feeling of surprise or confusion, so it is used to show 'surprise', 'disbelief', or 'confusion'.