English

Interjection

what in tarnation?

1. (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 ****.

   • 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!?

Usage notes

May be used organically or as a euphemistic bowdlerization of what in the ****?

Synonyms

• what the dickens
• what on Earth
• what the Devil
• what the ****