God knows
Idioms-
Also, goodness knows; heaven knows.
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Truly, certainly, definitely, as in God knows I need a winter coat . This expression, which originated about 1300 as God wot , does not necessarily imply that God is all-knowing but merely emphasizes the truth of the statement it accompanies. The variants using goodness and heaven are euphemisms that avoid taking God's name in vain. [Second half of 1500s]
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Also, God only knows . Only God knows, that is, neither I nor anyone else knows, as in God knows where I've stored those photos , or God only knows how many people will join the march . [Second half of 1500s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"She wanted to go and do lots of research; she spends God knows how much time now looking through all the paperwork," William said.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
God knows he’d have been blamed had the high-risk mission failed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
"We came here and we hired machinery: JCBs and tippers and God knows what."
From BBC • Aug. 30, 2025
And after the U.S. entered World War II, she volunteered as a USO girl, dancing with young soldiers on the Santa Monica Pier, she said, “before they went overseas to God knows what.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2025
“She is right, child. What is here is bad enough. Let us live moment by moment. There is no harm in dreaming about a shower. God knows we could all use one.”
From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
