/ ˈdɪkɪnz; NAmE / noun the dickens ( old-fashioned , informal )
1.
used in questions instead of 'devil' to show that you are annoyed or surprised :
Where the dickens did he go?
2.
( NAmE ) used when you are saying how attractive, etc. sb is :
cute as the dickens
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: a euphemism for devil , probably a use of the surname Dickens .