what in the world

An exclamation used to emphasize surprise, shock, anger, disgust, etc. Just what in the world is going on here? Aw, what in the world! I just had this fixed, and now there's a dent in it! What in the world! Don't sneak up on me like that!

what in the world

see under on earth.

See also: what, world

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

See also:

(all) the world and his wife
the world and his wife
wife
come into the world
(all) the world over
the world over
to the ends of the world
see the world
all corners of the world
on the trot

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