what the Devil
25
9.5
- idiom
- Archaic
- What the devil did you say it for?
- What the Devil are you talking about?
Examples
-
What the devil do you mean?
-
"What the devil was that all about?" he wondered as he pulled away and watched her in the rearview mirror.
Fiction book (1990) -
What the devil are you doing here?
-
What the devil are you saying?
-
What the devil does it matter what she says?
-
What the devil are you looking so sad about?
-
What the devil is that fool doing?
-
What the devil do you think you're doing?
-
What the devil!" She almost fainted with relief.
Fiction book (1990) -
Will somebody please tell me what the devil is going on?
Synonyms
∞
8.9
An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something
448
7.5
A small amount of care or worry about something
147
8.9
A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance
112
5.3
A short shout used to show surprise, anger, or confusion
112
9.9
A short phrase people say to show surprise or confusion
50
9.9
A rude strong swear word people say when angry or frustrated
47
9.9
Adds strong anger or surprise to what you say
23
9.9
A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked
11
9.9
A word people say in exclamations to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance
7
9.9
A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance
5
9.9
A short informal way people use to show surprise, confusion, or disbelief
1
9.9
A strong spoken reaction showing surprise and disbelief
A word people say to show strong surprise
How Strong
- Offensive
1
9.9
- NSFW
∞
8.9
- Archaic
25
9.5
- Informal
147
8.9
- Informal
1
9.9
- Informal
1
9.9
- Informal
112
9.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The expression combines a regular exclamative 'what' with 'the devil' used as a figurative intensifier; its general force (surprise/annoyance) is related to the literal words but relies on a conventional idiomatic use of 'devil' rather than straightforward composition. A B1 learner who knows the constituents could plausibly infer it's an exclamation, but they may not predict the exact pragmatic nuance or register without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
What the Devil may come from a time when people blamed the bold word Devil for strange or bad things. Saying what the Devil is like asking 'what on earth' but stronger, so it became a quick way to show surprise, confusion, or annoyance.