what the hell
Idioms-
It's not important, who cares, as in It cost a lot more, but what the hell, we can afford it . [Second half of 1800s] Also see what of it .
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An intensive of what , as in What the hell do you think you're doing? [First half of 1800s] Also see under on earth .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Now it’s top versus bottom. And people on the bottom are wondering what the hell is going on.”
From Slate ● Nov. 3, 2026
But she brushed off the barbs, saying: "I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster – what the hell."
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
At an event last month, Trump said “I don’t know what the hell we’re going to do” in regards to the potential offering.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
If we claim that the church has become more progressive, well, what the hell do we mean, and on what time scale?
From Salon ● Apr. 5, 2026
He jogged up to us, and I kept thinking, All I had to do was turn and walk away, what the hell is wrong with me?
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
