n.
-
(often Hell)
a place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth to which the wicked are consigned after death.
- a state or place of great suffering.
exclam.
used to express annoyance or surprise or for emphasis.
Phrase
- all hell breaks
(or is let)
loose
informal suddenly there is pandemonium. - come hell or high water
whatever difficulties may occur. - for the hell of it
informal just for fun. - get hell
informal be severely reprimanded. - give someone hell
informal severely reprimand or make things very unpleasant for someone. - go to hell in a handbasket
(or handcart)
N. Amer. informal deteriorate rapidly. - hell for leather
informal as fast as possible. - a
(or one)
hell of a ——
informal used to emphasize something very bad or great. - hell's bells
informal an exclamation of annoyance or anger. - hell's half acre
N. Amer. a great distance. - like hell
informal - very fast, much, hard, etc.
- used in ironic expressions of scorn or disagreement.
- not a hope in hell
informal no chance at all. - play hell
(or merry hell)
Brit. informal create havoc or cause damage. - there will be hell to pay
informal serious trouble will result. - until hell freezes over
forever.
Derivative
Etymology
OE hel, hell, of Gmc origin.
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