what in tarnation
Rural exclamation of shock
What in tarnation is a folksy exclamation of surprise, confusion, or frustration, equivalent to "what the hell" or "what on earth." Tarnation is an old euphemism blending "darnation" and "eternal," avoiding stronger oaths.
The phrase sounds rural and old-fashioned, now often used ironically or for comic effect: What in tarnation is going on here?
Gentle exclamation of surprise
- goshTame exclamation of surprise
- goodness graciousGentle interjection of surprise
- dagnabbitEuphemistic rural exclamation
- dadgummitMild rural expletive
darn · heck · gee whiz · land sakes · doggone · for crying out loud · holy smokes · good grief
Intense sudden wonder
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
incredulity · amazement · stupefaction · thunderstruck · aghast · speechless · startled · bafflement
Rural and unrefined
- colloquialCasual, everyday language
- homespunPlain and unpretentious
- down-homeUnpretentiously simple and welcoming
- countrifiedHaving rural qualities
old-timey · drawl · twang · vernacular · cornpone · hayseed · backwoods · rural
Causing laughter
- amusingCausing light laughter
- quaintAttractively unfamiliar, outdated
- colorfulFull of varied hues
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
cartoonish · melodramatic · tongue-in-cheek · campy · over-the-top · hammy · theatrical · corny
golly
Gentle exclamation of surprise
- goshTame exclamation of surprise
- goodness graciousGentle interjection of surprise
- dagnabbitEuphemistic rural exclamation
dadgummit · darn · heck · gee whiz · land sakes · doggone · for crying out loud · holy smokes · good grief · well I never
astonishment
Intense sudden wonder
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
dumbfounded · incredulity · amazement · stupefaction · thunderstruck · aghast · speechless · startled · bafflement · perplexity
rustic
Rural and unrefined
- colloquialCasual, everyday language
- homespunPlain and unpretentious
- down-homeUnpretentiously simple and welcoming
countrified · old-timey · drawl · twang · vernacular · cornpone · hayseed · backwoods · rural · Southern
comical
Causing laughter
exaggerated · cartoonish · melodramatic · tongue-in-cheek · campy · over-the-top · hammy · theatrical · corny · hokey
what in tarnationwhat the fuck
Crude expression of bewilderment
what the hell · holy shit · WTF · bloody hell · goddammit
what in tarnationI see
Acknowledgment of understanding
understood · of course · naturally · as expected · unsurprising