hell

noun

1》 (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.

2》 a state or place of great suffering.

exclamation used to express annoyance or surprise or for emphasis.

Phrases

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

1》 very fast, much, hard, etc.

2》 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.

Derivatives

hellward adverb & adjective

Origin

OE hel, hell, of Gmc origin.