Hurts Like The Dickens
Meaning
To hurt a lot, to be painful.
Example
It hurts like the dickens that Therese’s old computer won’t bring up jokes properly!
Origin
Dickens in this case is a euphemism for devil. Hence the phrase is really hurts like the devil which is also a common phrase. Dickens was likely considered more polite than devil in Victorian times, and may have been a superstitious alternative.
