- the place or state of punishment of the wicked after death; the abode of evil and condemned spirits; Gehenna or Tartarus.
- any place or state of torment or misery: They made their father's life a hell on earth.
- something that causes torment or misery: Having that cut stitched without anesthesia was hell.
- the powers of evil.
- the abode of the dead; Sheol or Hades.
- extreme disorder or confusion; chaos: The children let both dogs into the house, and all hell broke loose.
- something remarkable of its kind (usually used in the phrase a hell of a or one hell of a): That was one hell of a great game.
- a receptacle into which a tailor throws scraps.
- a box into which a printer throws discarded type.
- the utterance of “hell” in swearing or for emphasis.
- the hell, Informal.
- (used as an intensifier to express surprise, anger, impatience, etc., often in the form of a question beginning with a WH-word): Why the hell can't the trains run on time?How the hell am I supposed to finish this by tomorrow?
- (used sarcastically or ironically to express the opposite of what is being stated): Are you listening to me? The hell you are!
- (used to express surprise, irritation, disgust, etc.)
- to live or act in a wild or dissolute manner: All they cared about was drinking and helling around.
- be hell on, Slang.
- to be unpleasant to or painful for: These shoes are hell on my poor feet.
- to be harmful to: These country roads are hell on tires.
- for the hell of it, Informal.
- to see what will happen; for adventure, fun, excitement, etc.: For the hell of it, let's just get on the next bus and see where it takes us.
- with no particular purpose; for no special reason: I called him up for the hell of it, and he offered me a job.
- to suffer a scolding; receive a harsh reprimand: We'll get hell from our parents if we stay out late again.
- to reprimand or reproach severely.
- handbasket (def. 2).
- extremely demanding, fast-paced, aggressive, effective, or the like: The new job is hell on wheels. Our sales staff is hell on wheels when it comes to getting the most out of every account.
- like hell, Informal.
- with great speed, effort, intensity, etc.: We ran like hell to get home before the storm. She tried like hell to get him to change his mind.
- (used sarcastically or ironically to express the opposite of what is being stated): He says the motor will never break down? Like hell it won't!
- to deal recklessly with; bring injury or harm to: Snowstorms played hell with the flow of city traffic.
- raise hell, Slang.
- to indulge in wild celebration.
- to create an uproar; object violently to: She'll raise hell when she sees what your rabbit has done to her garden.
- (used to express dismissal, rejection, contempt, disappointment, or the like): If we have to walk five miles to see the view, the hell with it! He wouldn't even speak to me, so to hell with him!
- (used to express lack of concern or worry, indifference, abandonment, surrender, etc.): As long as you're borrowing $100, what the hell, borrow $200.
- contraction of he will.
- Christianity (sometimes capital)
- the place or state of eternal punishment of the wicked after death, with Satan as its ruler
- forces of evil regarded as residing there
- (in various religions and cultures) the abode of the spirits of the dead
- pain, extreme difficulty, etc
- a cause of such difficulty or suffering
- high spirits or mischievousness
- a box used by a tailor for discarded material
- a gambling house, booth, etc
- (intensifier)
- for the fun of it
- denoting a person or thing that is particularly bad or alarming
- give someone hell informal
- to give someone a severe reprimand or punishment
- to be a source of annoyance or torment to someone
- (intensifier)
- at great speed
- whatever difficulties may arise
- serious consequences, as of a foolish action
- like hell informal
- (intensifier)
- an expression of strong disagreement with a previous statement, request, order, etc
- to throw into confusion and disorder; disrupt
- raise hell
- to create a noisy disturbance, as in fun
- to react strongly and unfavourably
- the hell informal
- (intensifier) used in such phrases as what the hell, who the hell, etc
- an expression of strong disagreement or disfavour
- an exclamation of anger, annoyance, surprise, etc (Also in exclamations such as hell's bells, hell's teeth, etc)
- he will or he shall
