hell

[hel]

hell Definition

  • 1a place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death
  • 2a state or place of great suffering; an unbearable experience

Using hell: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hell" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    I feel like I'm going through hell right now.

  • Example

    He's going to catch hell from his boss for missing the deadline.

  • Example

    She's been through hell and back with her illness.

  • Example

    I wouldn't wish that kind of hell on anyone.

hell Synonyms and Antonyms

Idioms Using hell

  • when hell freezes over

    never, under any circumstances

    Example

    I'll go bungee jumping when hell freezes over!

  • a snowball's chance in hell

    an extremely small likelihood of success

    Example

    He has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the election.

  • a chaotic or violent situation erupts

    Example

    When the referee made a bad call, all hell broke loose on the soccer field.

Phrases with hell

  • to cause trouble or make a lot of noise in a wild or angry way

    Example

    The protesters were raising hell outside the courthouse.

  • no matter what happens or what difficulties are faced

    Example

    I promised my friend I would be at her wedding, come hell or high water.

  • to criticize or punish someone severely

    Example

    His coach gave him hell for missing the game-winning shot.

Origins of hell

from Old English 'hel', related to German 'Hรถlle'

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Summary: hell in Brief

The term 'hell' [hel] refers to a place of spiritual evil and suffering in various religions, as well as a state or place of great suffering. It is often used metaphorically to describe unbearable experiences, such as 'She's been through hell and back with her illness.' 'Hell' also appears in idioms like 'raise hell,' meaning to cause trouble, and 'when hell freezes over,' meaning never.

How do native speakers use this expression?