what in tarnation
English
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Interjection
what in tarnation?
- (idiomatic) used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question.
- 2003. Judith Silverstein, Michael Lasky, "Online dating for dummies"
- What in Tarnation to Write I still remember the first girl I called up for a date at age 15.
- 2005. Charles Harrington Elster, "What in the word?", Page 35
- Other euphemisms of this type (and there are many) include what in tarnation for what in damnation and what the Sam Hill for what the damn hell.
- 2007. Diane Stanley. "The Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy" Page 141.
- “What in tarnation do you think you're doing?”
- What in tarnation have you done with my wallet!?
- 2003. Judith Silverstein, Michael Lasky, "Online dating for dummies"
Usage notes
May be used organically or as a euphemistic bowdlerization of what in the hell?
Synonyms
- what the dickens
- what on Earth
- what the Devil
- what the fuck