hell
hell
(hĕl) noun
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.
2. The abode of the dead, identified with the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades; the underworld.
3. Hell Christian Science. Mortal belief; sin or error.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. A sharp scolding: gave the student hell for cheating.
7. Informal. Excitement, mischievousness, or high spirits: We did it for the sheer hell of it.
8. a. A tailor's receptacle for discarded material. b. Printing. A hellbox.
9. Informal. Used as an intensive: How the hell can I go? You did one hell of a job. He ran like hell to catch the bus.
10. Archaic. A gambling house.
verb
, intransitive
helled, helling, hells
Informal.
To behave riotously; carouse: out all night helling around.
interjection
Used to express anger, disgust, or impatience.
idiom.
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 high water
or hell 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.
[Middle English helle, from Old English.]