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#2 (permalink) Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:33 pm Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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. The answer is Heaven only knows-- it is a stock phrase meaning I have no idea. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13018
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#3 (permalink) Sun Sep 11, 2005 13:14 pm Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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Hi jian,
There's really no need to keep asking for the answer when the answer is before your very eyes on the screen.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#4 (permalink) Sun May 27, 2007 12:08 pm Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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is "before your very eyes" an idiomatic usage? what does it mean?
I guess, it means "right in front of you"? |
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Seanmen You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 62
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#5 (permalink) Sun May 27, 2007 12:11 pm Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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Hi,
Spot on - Dead right - Absolutely so or in a word- 'Yes'
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Sun May 27, 2007 12:27 pm Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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thanks.
BTW, I like your explanation about "bad habits", one classic example of them is "eating chips". |
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Seanmen You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 62
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#7 (permalink) Thu Dec 10, 2009 0:03 am Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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Hello everyone,
I am a student and I would like to know : What does 'Heaven only knows.' mean exactly? Thank you for your help. |
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Mickhael You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 03 Dec 2009 Posts: 79
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#8 (permalink) Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:32 am Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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Please read my previous post, Mickhael. _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13018
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Untaught1988 I'm a Communicator ;-)

 Joined: 13 Oct 2010 Posts: 1553 Location: Pakistan
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#10 (permalink) Sun Sep 16, 2012 22:25 pm Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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Please read Mister Micawber's comment in message #2. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#11 (permalink) Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:10 am Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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I definitely read that. I have an Oxford dictionary. I looked it up and found "Heaven/Goodness knows". If we can add, then can we change its position? Only Heaven knows. Heaven knows only? _________________ A Word A Day:
http://www.twitter.com/Urdu2Eng |
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Untaught1988 I'm a Communicator ;-)

 Joined: 13 Oct 2010 Posts: 1553 Location: Pakistan
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#12 (permalink) Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:11 am Idiom: 'heaven only knows' |
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As Mister Micawver says, 'Heaven only knows' is a stock phrase. If 'only' is used, the position is set. Only Heaven knows' works, but is not a stock phrase. 'Heaven alone knows' is also used. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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Idiom: there's little chance | Meaning of "There's no point" |