the measles

English

Etymology

See measles.

Phrase

the measles

1. Alternative form of measles.
2. (euphemistic, obsolete) Used after interrogative pronouns as an intensifier to express anger, frustration, incredulity, or other strong emotion.

   What the measles do you think you're doing?

   • 1614 November 10 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Beniamin Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson], Bartholmew Fayre: A Comedie, […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1631, →OCLC, (please specify the page):

     Why the meazills, should you stand heere, with your traine...

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:the dickens

References

• “measles, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2022.