2007-11-09 13:34:53 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It has nothing to do with Charles, "dickens" was a word for demons/hell that existed before he was alive (presumably from devil-kins). Shakespeare used the word once in his writing I believe.
2007-11-09 13:40:07 · answer #1 · answered by yelxeH 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the name Dickens goes back way before Charles Dickens so, though it may well be him they are referring to since he is really the most famous Dickens in history, you have to remember that Christians and just people who do not want to say hell at the end of their exclamation HAVE to say something. Personally, I feel that it is a poor excuse. Just ask God for help, and make it a point to stop saying that phrase at all. Why? In my opinion, substituting a word with another word still seems to have the same inflection, intent, feeling, etc and you might as well have just said the true phrase if you're going to do that. See?
2007-11-09 13:43:08 · answer #2 · answered by MICHAEL C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You brought back a memory of Grandma with your question. I had heard her say "Go to dickens" or "Go to the dickens". I always assumed it meant "to the devil" or "to hell" and thanks to Hexley for explaining it.
There are probably a lot of nick names for the devil - I've heard "nick", "old nick" and "old scratch" too.
2007-11-09 23:51:36 · answer #3 · answered by Renata 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did he not right about hell in "A Christmas Carol!"
2007-11-09 13:44:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋