What is the meaning of the expression what in the nation?

Answer 1

I've never heard of "What in the nation?" However, what you may be hearing is "What in tarnation?!?" This expletive is used to express surprise and maybe consternation. Tarnationoriginates from colonial New England and spread down throughout the original colonies. It may come from a slurring of eternal damnation. To learn more, consult http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tarnation The term "What inthe nation" is used frequently in books by Mark Twain. The books "The adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "Innocents Abroad" use this term. I question if "what in tarnation" is a corruption of "What in the nation" or Vice versa. I'm acquainted with Twain's writings. As a regionalist with a special ear for the spoken language, he is one of the most likely to "corrupt" the one for the other as his ear would have heard it being used. Perhaps if you could give textual evidence for your assertion, I could be more helpful in your understanding of his writings.