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hell
(redirected from give hell)

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
hell  (hl)
n.
1.
a. often Hell The abode of condemned souls and devils in some religions; the place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death, presided over by Satan.
b. A state of separation from God; exclusion from God's presence.
2. The abode of the dead, identified with the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades; the underworld.
3.
a. A situation or place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction: "War is hell" (William Tecumseh Sherman).
b. Torment; anguish: went through hell on the job.
4.
a. The powers of darkness and evil.
b. Informal One that causes trouble, agony, or annoyance: The boss is hell when a job is poorly done.
5. A sharp scolding: gave the student hell for cheating.
6. Informal Excitement, mischievousness, or high spirits: We did it for the sheer hell of it.
7.
a. A tailor's receptacle for discarded material.
b. Printing A hellbox.
8. Informal Used as an intensive: How the hell can I go? You did one hell of a job.
9. Archaic A gambling house.
intr.v. helled, hell·ing, hells Informal
To behave riotously; carouse: out all night helling around.
interj.
Used to express anger, disgust, or impatience.
Idioms:
for the hell of it
For no particular reason; on a whim: walked home by the old school for the hell of it.
hell on Informal
1. Damaging or destructive to: Driving in a hilly town is hell on the brakes.
2. Unpleasant to or painful for.
hell or/and high water
Troubles or difficulties of whatever magnitude: We're staying, come hell or high water.
hell to pay
Great trouble: If we're wrong, there'll be hell to pay.
like hell Informal
1. Used as an intensive: He ran like hell to catch the bus.
2. Used to express strong contradiction or refusal: He says he's going along with usLike hell he is!

[Middle English helle, from Old English; see kel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Word History: Hell comes to us directly from Old English hel. Because the Roman Church prevailed in England from an early date, the Romanthat is, Mediterraneanbelief that hell was hot prevailed there too; in Old English hel is a black and fiery place of eternal torment for the damned. But because the Vikings were converted to Christianity centuries after the Anglo-Saxons, the Old Norse hel, from the same source as Old English hel, retained its earlier pagan senses as both a place and a person. As a place, hel is the abode of oathbreakers, other evil persons, and those unlucky enough not to have died in battle. It contrasts sharply with Valhalla, the hall of slain heroes. Unlike the Mediterranean hell, the Old Norse hel is very cold. Hel is also the name of the goddess or giantess who presides in hel, the half blue-black, half white daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha. The Indo-European root behind these Germanic words is *kel-, "to cover, conceal" (so hell is the "concealed place"); it also gives us hall, hole, hollow, and helmet.

hell [hɛl]
n
1. (Christian Religious Writings / Theology) Christianity (sometimes capital)
a.  the place or state of eternal punishment of the wicked after death, with Satan as its ruler
b.  forces of evil regarded as residing there
2. (Non-Christian Religions / Other Non-Christian Religions) (sometimes capital) (in various religions and cultures) the abode of the spirits of the dead See also Hel, Hades, Sheol
3. pain, extreme difficulty, etc.
4. Informal a cause of such difficulty or suffering war is hell
5. US and Canadian high spirits or mischievousness there's hell in that boy
6. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) a box used by a tailor for discarded material
7. (Group Games / Gambling, except Cards) Now rare a gambling house, booth, etc.
as hell (intensifier) tired as hell
for the hell of it Informal for the fun of it
from hell Informal denoting a person or thing that is particularly bad or alarming neighbour from hell hangover from hell
give someone hell Informal
a.  to give someone a severe reprimand or punishment
b.  to be a source of annoyance or torment to someone
hell of a or helluva Informal (intensifier) a hell of a good performance
hell for leather at great speed
(come) hell or high water Informal whatever difficulties may arise
hell to pay Informal serious consequences, as of a foolish action
like hell Informal
a.  (adverb) (intensifier) he works like hell
b.  an expression of strong disagreement with a previous statement, request, order, etc.
play (merry) hell with Informal to throw into confusion and disorder; disrupt
raise hell
a.  to create a noisy disturbance, as in fun
b.  to react strongly and unfavourably
the hell Informal
a.  (intensifier) used in such phrases as what the hell, who the hell, etc.
b.  an expression of strong disagreement or disfavour the hell I will See like hell
interj
Informal an exclamation of anger, annoyance, surprise, etc. (Also in exclamations such as hell's bells, hell's teeth, etc.)
[Old English hell; related to helan to cover, Old Norse hel, Gothic halja hell, Old High German hella]

Hell
See also demons; devil.

an abnormal fear of heil. Also called stygiophobia.
hadephobia.

hell


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