hell

[hel]

noun

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.

Informal. 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.

Also called hellbox. Printing. 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!

interjection

(used to express surprise, irritation, disgust, etc.)

Verb Phrases

hell around, Slang. to live or act in a wild or dissolute manner: All they cared about was drinking and helling around.

Origin of hell

before 900; Middle English, Old English hel(l); cognate with Old High German hell(i)a (German Hölle), Old Norse hel, Gothic halja; akin to Old English helan to cover, hide, and to hull²

SYNONYMS FOR hell

1. inferno. 2. anguish, agony, torture.

ANTONYMS FOR hell

1, 2. heaven, paradise.

Related formshell-like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for hell on wheels

hell

noun

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

(sometimes capital) (in various religions and cultures) the abode of the spirits of the deadSee also Hel, Hades, Sheol

pain, extreme difficulty, etc

informal a cause of such difficulty or sufferingwar is hell

US and Canadian high spirits or mischievousnessthere's hell in that boy

a box used by a tailor for discarded material

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 alarmingneighbour from hell; hangover from hell

give someone hell informal

to give someone a severe reprimand or punishment
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

hell or high water or come hell or high water informal whatever difficulties may arise

hell to pay informal serious consequences, as of a foolish action

like hell informal

(adverb)(intensifier)he works like hell
an expression of strong disagreement with a previous statement, request, order, etc

play hell with or play merry hell with informal 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

the hell I will

interjection

informal an exclamation of anger, annoyance, surprise, etc (Also in exclamations such as hell's bells, hell's teeth, etc)

Word Origin for hell

Old English hell; related to helan to cover, Old Norse hel, Gothic halja hell, Old High German hella

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hell on wheels

hell

Old English hel, helle, "nether world, abode of the dead, infernal regions," from Proto-Germanic *haljo "the underworld" (cf. Old Frisian helle, Dutch hel, Old Norse hel, German Hölle, Gothic halja "hell") "the underworld," literally "concealed place" (cf. Old Norse hellir "cave, cavern"), from PIE *kel- "to cover, conceal, save" (see cell).

The English word may be in part from Old Norse Hel (from Proto-Germanic *halija "one who covers up or hides something"), in Norse mythology the name of Loki's daughter, who rules over the evil dead in Niflheim, the lowest of all worlds (nifl "mist"). Transfer of a pagan concept and word to a Christian idiom. In Middle English, also of the Limbus Patrum, place where the Patriarchs, Prophets, etc. awaited the Atonement. Used in the KJV for Old Testament Hebrew Sheol and New Testament Greek Hades, Gehenna. Used figuratively for "state of misery, any bad experience" since at least late 14c. As an expression of disgust, etc., first recorded 1670s.

Expression Hell in a handbasket is attested by 1867, in a context implying use from a few years before, and the notion of going to Heaven in a handbasket is from 1853, with a sense of "easy passage" to the destination. Hell or high water (1874) apparently is a variation of between the devil and the deep blue sea. To wish someone would go to hell is in Shakespeare ("Merchant of Venice"). Snowball's chance in hell "no chance" is from 1931; till hell freezes over "never" is from 1832. To ride hell for leather is from 1889, originally with reference to riding on horseback. Hell on wheels is said to be from 1843 in DAS; popularity dates from 1869 in reference to the temporary workers' towns along the U.S. transcontinental railroad and their vices.

Culture definitions for hell on wheels

hell

The dwelling place of Satan, devils, and wicked souls condemned to eternal punishment after death; a place of pain and torment. (Compare heaven.)

Idioms and Phrases with hell on wheels

hell on wheels

Tough, aggressive, wild, or mean, as in Watch out for the boss—he's hell on wheels this week. This expression originated with the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1860s, when it denoted the last town on the line, which was carried on freight cars as the track was extended. The town consisted mainly of tents occupied by construction gangs, liquor dealers, gamblers, and other camp followers known for their rough and often vicious ways.

hell

In addition to the idioms beginning with hell

hell has no fury like a woman scorned
hell of a
hell on wheels
hell or high water, come
hell to pay

also see:

(all hell) break loose
devil (hell) of a
for the hell of it
give someone hell
go to hell
hot as hell
like a bat out of hell
like hell
mad as a hornet (hell)
not a hope in hell
raise Cain (hell)
road to hell is paved with good intentions
shot to hell
snowball's chance in hell
till hell freezes over
to hell and gone
to hell with
what the hell

hell

noun

interjection

Verb Phrases

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of hell

hell

noun

interjection

Word Origin for hell

hell

hell

hell on wheels

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