on earth
Idioms-
Also, in creation ; in the world . Ever, anywhere, of all possible things. These phrases are all used for emphasis in questions or, less often, in a negative context. For example, What on earth is he doing with a spade? or Where in creation did that child go? or How in the world do you expect me to carry all those bags? [Late 1700s]
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like nothing on earth . Incomparable. For example, That perfume smells like nothing on earth , or Her new hair color is like nothing on earth . [c. 1900]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The most valuable companies on earth are all watching this space.
Rejecting traditional religion’s emphasis on sin and punishment, Modern Spiritualism was rooted in personal happiness on earth and in the heaven of Summerland, as well as a desire for world harmony.
From Literature
The liquid-cooling infrastructure currently used on earth for that purpose is “heavy and freezes” and therefore “obviously out of the question.”
From MarketWatch
Extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, as they are known, shoot lasers into molten tin to create EUV light, which doesn’t exist naturally on earth.
“Great-backed what? Puffins? What on earth are you babbling on about? Let me pass!”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
