hell of a

Idioms  

1. Also, one hell of a

2. See devil of a .

3. This phrase is used as an intensive to emphasize certain qualities about the noun it modifies. By itself the idiom is ambiguous, for its exact meaning depends on the context. For example, He is a hell of a driver can mean either that he is very skillful or that he is a terrible driver. Similarly, We had one hell of a time can mean either that we enjoyed ourselves greatly or that we had an awful or difficult time. [Second half of 1700s]

---

Example Sentences

Reflecting on her immersion in the “Women of Will” project so late in life, Packer told American Theater magazine: “One of the ways in which we grow is by learning a hell of a lot about things, and then being able to stand on the shoulders of what we’ve learned and launch again. I feel as if I am launching myself again.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Kim Bailey, who chairs Crowborough Shield, told BBC Radio Sussex housing asylum seekers in camps costs a "hell of a lot more" that hotels.

From BBC

“That’s a hell of a thing, isn’t it? How bad is it when you’re hoping global warming will save your dad’s job?”

From Literature

Lillelien said that Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill and then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had seen their boys take "a hell of a beating".

From BBC

Don’t miss: ‘Affordability is a con job for consumers’: 2025 was one hell of a year.

From MarketWatch