God knows
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- God only knows, goodness knows, gosh knows
- heaven knows, heaven only knows
- Lord knows, Lord only knows
Phrase[edit]
- It is only known to God; it is unknown to people.
- Synonyms: I don't know, who knows
- Don't touch that! God knows who else put their hands on that thing!
- 1837, Moses Stuart, A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, 4th edition, page 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", but a report has come to us, that it was either Clement or Luke.
- 1994, Daryl Simmons & Babyface (lyrics and music), “Willing to Forgive”, performed by Aretha Franklin:
- I paid the rent, washed your clothes / Cooked your food and only God knows / Only God knows why I stay with you / I guess I'm in love
- 1995, Tom Gammill and Max Pross, “The Gum”, in Seinfeld, season 7, episode 10 (television production):
- So, you want my father to pay for this? – You saw him. He was fiddling with the engine. God knows what he did there.
- (often modifying a parenthetic concession) It is known unto God; it is certainly true.
- 1700 August 8, Matthew Henry, “A Sermon Preached at the Opening of the New Meeting-House at Chester”, in Misc. Works, published 1830, page 1134:
- 1984, Joseph Heller, God Knows, page 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, “The Contest”, in Seinfeld, season 4, episode 11 (television production):
- 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[edit]
In the sense “nobody knows”, an interrogative pronoun often follows: “God knows where”, “God knows why” etc.
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
Only known to God; only known to the gods