green earth
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of green earth
First recorded in 1785–95
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.
“Why on God’s green earth, why would we allow this to happen?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 7, 2026
After viewing the matter from every angle and discussing it in a full editorial conference for an hour, I don’t see how in God’s green earth we can publish “Whose Names Are Unknown.”
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2024
“Not on God’s green earth, as the phrase goes,” Newsom said in the weekend interview, adding that he would be with Biden on Monday and hosting a fundraiser for him Tuesday.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 19, 2023
"There is no way in God's green earth I would put myself through this again with anybody other than Ken Loach."
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2022
“Where on God’s green earth did you get a pistol?” he asked.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
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.
