hell-for-leath·er

(hĕl′fər-lĕth′ər)

adv. & adj. Informal

At breakneck speed: "The journey back he made along the coast road, traveling hell-for-leather" (Idival Jones).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hell′-for-leath′er

Informal. adj.

1. characterized by reckless determination or breakneck speed: a hell-for-leather chase.

adv.

2. in a hell-for-leather manner; hellbent.

[1885–90]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adv.

hell-for-leather - at breakneck speed; "they were travelling hell-for-leather"

hell-for-leather

adjective

Informal. Characterized by great celerity:

breakneck, expeditious, fast, fleet, quick, rapid, speedy, swift.

Idiom: quick as a bunny.

adverb

Informal. In a rapid way:

apace, fast, posthaste, quick, quickly.

Informal: flat out, lickety-split, pronto.

Idioms: full tilt, in a flash, in nothing flat, like a bat out of hell, like a blue streak, like a flash, like a house on fire, like a shot, like a streak, like greased lightning, like the wind, like wildfire.

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References in periodicals archive

In most parks on Merseyside this is a common sight, huge dogs running hell-for-leather anywhere and everywhere, a danger to children and other dogs.

We need dog wardens; You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk

Going hell-for-leather at the material, director Jamie Lloyd's bust-a-gut production risks bludgeoning the audience, but resistance is ultimately futile.

The commitments

Less full of bile, more the youthful bombast and frenetic, feverish energy usually reserved for sugar-addled youths, running hell-for-leather around a playground.

Gruesome but pretty good too

Both sides are likely to go hell-for-leather in today's encounter and Marouane Fellaini and Steven Gerrard won't be taking any prisoners.

Fellaini and Gerrard won't take prisoners in 'friendly'

ANDY Bates is going hell-for-leather towards a major movie deal - in the costume department.

Being clever with leather has rewards; Reputation sees film hope for Andy

Strap tight your seatbelts and prepare to hurtle through forests and bounce along mud-tracks on a hell-for-leather journey that's the closest thing I've seen to the real thrills and spills of rally driving.

Crash, bang, WALLOP; GAME OF THE WEEK DIRT 3 (XBOX 360)

And Stamford Bridge boss Ancelotti is ready to pair Torres and Drogba, with Anelka in behind them as the attacking point of a midfield diamond, as the champions go hell-for-leather in their bid to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United, who amazingly slipped up at bottom club Wolves.

CARLO GOES 3 UP TOP; THREE AND EASY BLUES

"Leeds are playing very well and I don't expect them to lose many more games this season so we'll have to go hell-for-leather to catch them.

MARTIN'S MISSION; COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1

Triple Athens medal list Bradley Wiggins made a steady if unremarkable start to the Tour Down Under, finishing in the bunch after a hell-for-leather opening day in Adelaide.

CYCLING: Steady start for Athens medallist

The 26-year-old World Championship winner will put her Olympic aspirations on the line in Madeira next weekend - and she has vowed to go hell-for-leather in a bid to join fellow Brit Michelle Dillon in the Greek capital.

Leanda's Athens mission

To Hoffman, it was a lot more than that--seeing in such theatrical operations his path to success and glory, he made those hell-for-leather dashes the key part of the little boats' mission.

Sitting duck in the Mekong: John Kerry's war years