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heck

|heck|

B1

/hɛk/

mild surprise or frustration

Etymology
Etymology Information

'heck' originates from English, specifically as a euphemism for 'hell'.

Historical Evolution

'hell' transformed into the euphemistic form 'heck' to avoid using profanity.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'hell', but over time it evolved into a milder expression of surprise or frustration.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a mild exclamation used to express surprise, frustration, or dismay.

What the heck is going on here?

Synonyms

darngoshblimey

Interjection 1

used as a euphemism for 'hell' in expressions of surprise or anger.

Heck, I forgot my keys!

Synonyms

darngoshblimey

Examples

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Idioms

what the heck

Last updated: 2025/02/02 15:21