God knows

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English

Phrase

(deprecated template usage) God knows

  1. It is only known to God; i.e., it is unknown to people, no one knows, I don't know
    • 1837, Moses Stuart, A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, 4th ed., 73
      ...Origen himself does not say this. His words are simply, "Who wrote it [i.e. penned it down], God knows, ἡ δὲ εἰς ἡμᾶς φθάσασα ἱστορία (hē dè eis hēmâs phthásasa historía), but a report has come to us, that it was either Clement or Luke."
    • 1995, Tom Gammill & al., Seinfeld, 7.10: "The Gum"
      So, you want my father to pay for this?
      You saw him. He was fiddling with the engine. God knows what he did there.
  2. (often modifying a parenthetic concession) It is known unto God; i.e., it is certainly true, certainly, of course, obviously
    • 1700 August 8, Matthew Henry, "A Sermon Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting-House at Chester" in Misc. Works (1830), 1134
      ...those therefore that appeal to him upon every trivial occasion, and with a slightly superficial God knows, while they never think of God, nor have any regard to his knowledge, profane his name by taking it in vain...
    • 1984, Joseph Heller, God Knows, 8
      I have my faults, God knows, and I may even be among the first to admit them, but to this very day I know in my bones that I'm a much better person than He is.
    • 1992, Larry David, Seinfeld, 4.11: "The Contest"
      No, no, no. Don't do it. Don't do it! For my sake! God knows I don't ask you for much! Now, come on. Please, Jerry. Please! I'm beggin' ya! Please! Come on! Please!

Usage notes

In the sense "nobody knows", an interrogative pronoun often follows: God knows where, God knows why etc.

Alternative forms

Synonyms

Translations

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