hell

Pluralhells

Formshells, helling, helled

1. 1
   after deathproper noununcountable

   In many religions, a place of great pain where evil spirits live and bad people may go after death.

   She was taught as a child that people who tell lies go to hell.

   Many old churches have paintings of heaven and hell on their walls.

   UsageSay go to hell and in hell, with no the.

   Note
2. 2
   the hecknounmildly vulgarcountable or uncountable

   An empty word added to questions and phrases to show strong feeling.

   What the hell are you waiting for?

   Why the hell would I agree to that?

   UsageUsed in what the hell and where the hell. Not polite.

   Similarheck, devil, blazes, dickens

   Note
3. 3
   earthly sufferingnounfigurativelycountable

   A very unpleasant place or situation where you suffer a lot.

   Like the worst day you can imagine, going on and on with no break.

   The long march through the desert was sheer hell for the soldiers.

   Losing her job turned the next year into a living hell.

   UsageSay go through hell or it was hell.

   Similartorment, nightmare, agony, misery, ordeal

   Oppositeheaven, paradise, bliss

   Note
4. 4
   the heckadverbmildly vulgarcolloquial

   Same as the hell or like hell. In British speech, after a verb and its subject, it means 'certainly not'.

   He said he would help us move, but did he hell.

   "Are you lending him your new car?" "Am I hell! He crashed the last one."

   Note
5. 5
   interjectionmildly vulgarcolloquialidiomatic

   A rude word people say when they are angry or surprised, or to make what they say stronger.

   Hell, that was the best meal I've had in years.

   Do I want the promotion? Hell, yes.

   UsageSay hell yes to agree strongly.

   Similardamn, heck

6. 6
   adverbmildly vulgarcolloquialAustraliaNew Zealand

   Used before a word to mean 'very' or 'extremely.'

   That movie was hell good.

   It's hell cold this morning.

   UsagePut it right before the word: hell good.

   Similarreally, very, super, extremely, damn

   Note
7. 7
   rough treatmentnouncolloquialcountable or uncountablewith on

   Great pain or trouble caused to someone or something.

   The cold weather gave my bad knee hell all winter.

   That spicy meal gave my stomach hell for hours.

   UsageSay be hell on your knees, or play hell with something.

   Similarhavoc, trouble, grief

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