Scared the Dickens out of me

Posted by Henry February 10, 2004In reply to Scared the Dickens out of me posted by lachlan oddy on February 10, 2004

Does anyone know of the origins for the phrase "Scared the Dickens out of me?" I assume it has at least SOMETHING to do with Charles Dickens but I really can't come up with a strong link on my own....

What the dickens! is a euphemistic way of saying What the devil! The phrase can be found in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.

Replies

Scared the Dickens out of me ESC 10/February/04