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.
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
“You had it, then you know what the hell it’s about. If you ain’t never had it and people are making jokes about it, I pray you never get it. It’s not fun.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 17, 2025
When Johnson went to chow, I asked Lobel what the hell was going on with him about Brew.
From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers
Definitions 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.
