# earthly

/ˈɝθɫi/ (US) · /ˈɜːθli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/earthly
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. worldly or physical

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to this world and physical life, rather than to heaven or spiritual things.

For teachers: pertaining to the terrestrial world or physical existence as opposed to a spiritual or celestial realm.

- The monk gave up all his earthly possessions to live a simple life.
- The philosopher argued that we should focus on solving earthly problems before speculating about the nature of the afterlife.

### 2. for emphasis in negatives

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

used to add strong emphasis to a question or negative statement, often meaning 'at all'.

For teachers: used as an intensifier in negative constructions or rhetorical questions to express disbelief or lack of knowledge.

- I have no earthly idea how he managed to finish the project so fast.
- There is no earthly reason why the committee should reject a proposal that meets every single requirement.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in negative phrases like 'no earthly reason' or 'no earthly idea'.

Teaching tip: This is a common idiomatic intensifier; tell students it functions similarly to 'on earth' in 'Why on earth did you do that?'

### 3. a slight chance

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

the smallest possible chance of succeeding or understanding something.

For teachers: the slightest chance of success or the most basic level of understanding; typically used in the negative.

- With so little time left, the team didn't have an earthly of winning.
- The candidate didn't stand an earthly of securing the nomination given the current political climate.

Usage: Usually appears in the construction 'not to have/stand an earthly'.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific British idiom where 'earthly' functions as a noun by dropping the word 'chance'.

## Examples

- He has no earthly reason to be so angry.
- The monk decided to give away all his earthly possessions before entering the monastery.
- The poet contrasts the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures with the perceived permanence of the divine, suggesting that material wealth is ultimately an illusion.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.