what the
English
Etymology
From various expressions such as what the hell by aposiopesis.
Interjection
what the … ?
- (by ellipsis) Used to express astonishment or incredulity, as a question or questioning of the situation at hand, without requiring any specific vulgarity as intensifier.
- 1940, Pinocchio, Burbank: Disney; distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, spoken by Lampwick (Frankie Darrow), as realization dawns that he is turning into a donkey:
- Hee haw! Did that come out of me? Oh! Huh? What the …? What's going on? Ahhh!
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Related terms
terms related to "what the … ?"
- what the fuck
- what the heck
- what the hell
- what the hey
- what the sam hill
Translations
expression of astonishment
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Anagrams
- thaweth