How is “on earth” used?

In The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), one line is: “What on earth?”

Which movie is “on earth” from?

The clip at the top of this page is from The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947).

on earth

used after negative nouns or pronouns to emphasize what you are saying; On the planet Earth, as a physical place rather than for emphasis.; Used in questions after what, how, or why to show surprise, disbelief, or insistence.

Heard in 73 moviesPlay Idioms

Meaning

Oxford40% of films
used after negative nouns or pronouns to emphasize what you are saying
Editorial25% of films
On the planet Earth, as a physical place rather than for emphasis.
Editorial20% of films
Used in questions after what, how, or why to show surprise, disbelief, or insistence.

In the movies · 73

Learn it in full scenes

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir1947
Atlas Shrugged: Part I2011

charge, cost, pay, the earth
come back to earth
go to earth
how, why, where, who, on earth
be, feel, look, taste, like nothing on earth
run to earth
get your end away
disappear off the face of the earth
move heaven and earth
promise the earth
the salt of the earth
wipe off the face of the earth

More idioms

change your mind
in the end
good job
at last
be friends
be there for
go wrong
what are you waiting for
get in the way of
all along
other than
once again

Definitions from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, 9th edition

What on earth?

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)10:28

Said in 8 films · #1