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meaning of "What on earth"



 
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ESL Forum | English Teacher Explanations (ESL Tests)
prevent vs postpone | Meaning of "There's no point"
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meaning of "What on earth" Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:18 am  meaning of "What on earth"		  
Test No. incompl/elem-28 "Responses", question 4

Mike: 'They went on strike last week.'
Jane: '.........'

(a) What on earth for?
(b) Are they on earth?
(c) Do they live on earth?
(d) Why on earth to?

Test No. incompl/elem-28 "Responses", answer 4

Mike: 'They went on strike last week.'
Jane: 'What on earth for?'

Correct answer: (a) What on earth for?

Your answer was: correct
_________________________

Hi,

I know it's an expression "What on earth on" but dont' know the exactly meaning.

Please help me, Thanks.
KYTTIE
KYTTIE
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What on earth Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:41 am  What on earth		  
This means simply why but the speaker is very surprised as well and can't understand the reason why.
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What on earth Mon Jan 16, 2006 16:07 pm  What on earth		  
Mr Alan !
Could you set forth more clearly, please?
"What on earth for? "
Polska
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What on earth Mon Jan 16, 2006 16:51 pm  What on earth		  
Polska wrote:
Mr Alan !
Could you set forth more clearly, please?
"What on earth for? "

Hi,
What on earth for? is an expression both asking why and at the same time expressing great surprise - which is roughly what I said over a year ago.

Alan
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What on earth Tue May 22, 2007 22:59 pm  What on earth		  
Hello!

My answer was "what on earth for". But now the correct answer is why on earth to. Why?
Snoopy_Blah_Blah
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meaning of "What on earth" Mon Nov 03, 2008 13:19 pm  meaning of "What on earth"		  
Yes, the correct answer is "why on earth for".
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What on earth Mon Nov 03, 2008 13:38 pm  What on earth		  
Snoopy_Blah_Blah wrote:
Hello!

My answer was "what on earth for". But now the correct answer is why on earth to. Why?
Hello Snoopy

The test seems to be working fine. Perhaps you simply clicked on the wrong option by accident.

I've just tried the test, and option (a) (What on earth for?) is given as the correct answer.

If you choose option (d) and then click to see the answers to the questions, you will be told that (d) is incorrect.
.
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prevent vs postpone | Meaning of "There's no point"
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