English idiom

how on earth

Register · Informal CEFR B1

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Figurative meaning

an emphatic way of asking 'how', expressing surprise or disbelief

Why this phrase?

'On earth' is just for emphasis, not about the planet.

Example

“How on earth did you finish so quickly?”

Dictionary details

Tags

surprise

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

hang on a minute

used to ask someone to wait, or to express surprise or objection

ring a bell

to sound familiar or remind you of something

what on earth

an emphatic way of asking 'what', expressing surprise or confusion

jump up and down

to react with strong excitement or anger about something

out of the blue

suddenly and unexpectedly

speak of the devil

Said when a person you were just talking about suddenly appears.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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