hel n. 1 a
place regarded in
some religions as
the abode of the
dead, or of condemned sinners
and devils. 2 a place or
state of
misery or wickedness. 3 colloq. used as an
exclamation of
surprise or annoyance (who the hell are you?; a hell of a mess). 4 US colloq.
fun;
high spirits. øbeat (or
knock etc.) the hell
out of colloq.
beat etc.
without restraint.
come hell or high
water no
matter what the difficulties.
for the hell of it colloq. for fun; on
impulse.
get (or catch) hell colloq. be severely scolded or punished.
give a
person hell colloq.
scold or
punish or
make things
difficult for a person. hell-bent (foll. by on) recklessly
determined. hell-cat a
spiteful violent woman. hell-fire the
fire or fires regarded as existing in hell. hell for
leather at full
speed. hell-hole an
oppressive or
unbearable place. hell-hound a
fiend. hell's
angel a
member of a gang of
male motor-cycle enthusiasts
notorious for
outrageous and violent
behaviour. like hell colloq. 1
not at
all. 2 recklessly,
exceedingly. not a
hope in hell colloq. no
chance at all.
play hell (or
merry hell)
with colloq. be upsetting or disruptive
to. what the hell colloq. it is of no
importance. øøhell-like adj. hellward adv. & adj. [OE hel, hell f. Gmc]
