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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | heofon |
Related topics:1 also Heaven the place where God is believed to live and where good people are believed to go when they die [↪ paradise]
place of god
[singular]RR2 an extremely enjoyable situation or place [= paradise]: 
Sitting by the pool with a good book is my idea of heaven.
enjoyable situation
[uncountable] informalSitting by the pool with a good book is my idea of heaven. in heaven Put a baseball in his hand and he's in heaven.
Put a baseball in his hand and he's in heaven. a match/marriage made in heaven (=a happy and successful marriage)
3 spoken
for heaven's sake
a) used to show that you are annoyed or angry : Oh, for heaven's sake, Mark, do you have to make everything into a joke?
Oh, for heaven's sake, Mark, do you have to make everything into a joke?b) used to emphasize a question, request, order, or opinion : For heaven's sake, let's all get to sleep.
For heaven's sake, let's all get to sleep.4 spoken
heaven (only) knows
a) used to emphasize that you do not know something : He won't tell me what he thinks. Heaven knows why.
He won't tell me what he thinks. Heaven knows why.b) used to emphasize what you are saying : Sue can't take a holiday yet, though heaven knows she needs a rest.
Sue can't take a holiday yet, though heaven knows she needs a rest.5 spoken
heaven help somebody
a) used to express sympathy for someone who is in a dangerous or difficult situation : 'The two boys are going to the dentist on Thursday.' 'Heaven help the dentist.'
'The two boys are going to the dentist on Thursday.' 'Heaven help the dentist.'b) used to say that you will be very angry with someone if they do something :
6 spoken used to say that you very much hope something will not happen : What would you do financially if, heaven forbid, your husband died?
heaven forbid
What would you do financially if, heaven forbid, your husband died?7 spoken used when asking a surprised and angry question : Where in heaven's name have you been?
what/how/why etc in heaven's name
Where in heaven's name have you been?9 to try very hard to achieve something : I would move heaven and earth to help her.
move heaven and earth
I would move heaven and earth to help her.