in heaven's name

alternative in Heaven's name

1. idiomaticAn intensifier, chiefly used with questions.

   What in heaven's name are you doing?

   3 more examples

   Who in heaven's name told you to do that?

   Where in heaven's name are my darn shoes?

   In heaven’s name, get your hair out of his face! I pushed my hair behind my ears.

   2017 March, Jacky Dahlhaus, “Freedom”, in Raising a Vampire (Suckers; 2), 2nd edition, Folla Fiction Publishing, →ISBN, page 256

   Synonyms: in the name of heaven

1. Alternative letter-case form of in heaven's name.

   Who in Heaven’s name was Dr Mama? And why would she need to meet with him?

   2016, Yewande Omotoso, The Woman Next Door, London: Chatto & Windus, →ISBN, page 141

   2 more examples

   “Why, thus I mean it. He thinks he sees him; but, if he does, upon my honour, he sees a ghost,” and Dangerfield chuckled merrily. / “Pray, Mr. Dangerfield, consider me, and be serious, and in Heaven’s name explain,” said Mervyn, speaking, evidently, in suppressed anguish.

   1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “How a Gentleman Paid a Visit at the Brass Castle, and There Read a Paragraph in an Old Newspaper”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume III, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 21

   “I’ve got a woman,” he said, and even to himself he sounded surprised. / “Then what in Heaven’s name are you playing at crime for?”

   1951, Philip Loraine [pseudonym; Robin Estridge], “Officer, Gentleman . . . and Fox”, in The Break in the Circle, New York, N.Y.: The M. S. Mill Co. and William Morrow & Co., part II (Semi-Circle), page 145