- hell
- hell1 W3S1 [hel] n▬▬▬▬▬▬▬1¦(when you die)¦2¦(suffering)¦3¦(unpleasant situation)¦4 what/how/why/where etc the hell?5 a/one hell of a something6 go to hell!7 feel/look like hell8 beat/surprise/scare the hell out of somebody9 (just) for the hell of it10 what the hell!11 to hell with somebody/something12 run/hurt/fight etc like hell13 like hell/the hell14 the something/somebody from hell15 guilty/shy/mad/angry etc as hell16 sure as hell17 give somebody hell18 get the hell out (of somewhere)19 there'll be hell to pay20 go to hell and back21 all hell broke loose22 come hell or high water23 go to hell in a handbasket24 hell's bells25 play (merry) hell with something26 raise hell27 run/go hell for leather28 hell on wheels29 when hell freezes over30 catch hell▬▬▬▬▬▬▬[: Old English;]1.) ¦(WHEN YOU DIE)¦ also Hell[U]the place where the souls of bad people are believed to be punished after death, especially in the Christian and Muslim religions2.) ¦(SUFFERING)¦ [singular, U]a place or situation in which people suffer very much, either physically or emotionally▪ War is hell.▪ My mother made my life hell .▪ These past few days have been a living hell .▪ She must have gone through hell every day, the way we teased her about her weight.pure/absolute/sheer etc hell▪ They described the war zone as sheer hell.▪ He says his time in jail was hell on earth .3.) ¦(UNPLEASANT SITUATION)¦ [singular, U] informala situation, experience, or place that is very unpleasant▪ The traffic was hell this morning.pure/absolute/sheer etc hell▪ 'How was your exam?' 'Sheer hell!'4.) what/how/why/where etc the hell?spoken not polite used to show that you are very surprised or angry▪ What the hell are you doing, wasting my time?▪ How the hell are we going to do that?5.) a/one hell of a sthspoken not polite used to emphasize the idea that something is very big, very good, very bad etc▪ I've come one hell of a long way to get here.▪ Envy like yours is a hell of a good motive for murder.6.) go to hell!spoken not polite used when you are very angry with someone▪ If John doesn't like it, he can go to hell!7.) feel/look like hellspoken not polite to feel or look very ill or tired▪ I've been feeling like hell all week.8.) beat/surprise/scare the hell out of sbinformal not polite to beat, surprise etc someone very much▪ We have only one aim: to beat the hell out of the opposition.9.) (just) for the hell of itspoken not polite for no serious reason, or only for fun▪ They shot people just for the hell of it.10.) what the hell!spoken not polite used to say that you will do something and not worry about any problems it causes▪ Elaine poured herself a large glass of whisky - what the hell, it was Christmas.11.) to hell with sb/sthspoken not polite used to say that you do not care about someone or something any more▪ I want to live for the present, and to hell with the consequences.12.) run/hurt/fight etc like hellinformal not polite to run, fight etc very quickly or very much▪ My new shoes hurt like hell.13.) like hell/the hellspoken not polite used to say that you do not agree with what someone has said▪ 'You keep out of this, Ma.' 'Like hell I will.'14.) the sth/sb from hellinformal not polite something or someone that is the worst you can imagine▪ She was the flatmate from hell.▪ It was the holiday from hell.15.) guilty/shy/mad/angry etc as hellspoken not polite very guilty,shy etc▪ If I had your problems, I'd be mad as hell.16.) sure as hellspoken not polite used to emphasize that something is true▪ I don't scare easily, but I was sure as hell scared.17.) give sb hellinformal not polite to treat someone in an unpleasant or angry way▪ She didn't like him, and gave him hell at the slightest opportunity.18.) get the hell out (of somewhere)informal not polite to leave a place quickly and suddenly▪ Let's get the hell out of here!19.) there'll be hell to payspoken not polite used to say that people will be very angry▪ If they find us there'll be hell to pay.20.) go to hell and backto go through a very difficult situation▪ I'd go to hell and back for that boy.21.) all hell broke looseinformal not polite used to say that people suddenly become very noisy or angry▪ Journalists woke him with the news and all hell broke loose.22.) come hell or high waterinformal not polite in spite of any problems or difficulties▪ I decided I would get the job done by Friday, come hell or high water.23.) go to hell in a handbasketAmE informal not polite if a system or organization has gone to hell in a handbasket, it has stopped working well and is now working very badly▪ The education system in this country has gone to hell in a handbasket.24.) hell's bellsspoken old-fashioned also hell's teethBrE used to express great annoyance or surprise25.) play (merry) hell with sthBrE informal to make something stop working or happening as it should▪ The cold weather played hell with the weekend sports schedule.26.) raise hellinformal not polite to protest strongly and angrily about a situation27.) run/go hell for leatherinformal not polite to run as fast as possible28.) hell on wheelsAmE informal not polite someone who does exactly what they want and does not care what happens as a result.29.) when hell freezes overinformal not polite used to say that something will never happen30.)catch hellAmE spoken not polite to be blamed or punished▪ You'll catch hell when your Mom comes home!hell 2hell2 interjection not polite1.) used to express anger or annoyance▪ Oh hell! I've left my purse at home.2.) used to emphasize a statement▪ Well, hell, I don't know!
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.
