Quote:
Originally Posted by David L.  'what the hell' has two uses/meanings. It is not that it means 'what is going on here?' but that the full sentence would be 'What the hell is going on here?'
Firstly, it can be used to express annoyance or surprise or for emphasis : "Oh, hell—now what is he complaining about?'
'Hell, no. You won't get me going on that! (say, referring to a scary rollercoaster)
• ( the hell) informal, expressing anger, contempt, or disbelief : "Who the hell are you?'
Son:"Dad, I don't care what you say, I'm going to the party!'
Father: 'The hell you are!'
'what the hell?' = milder : 'what on earth?'
Secondly: say you miss out on something that you really wanted, or were really looking forward to, and have to resign yourself that you've missed out, or that it isn't going to happen. You might shrug your shoulders and say, "What the hell.' This is not said as an exclamation, but almost like a sigh. It is similar to "Oh, well.', but more forceful.
Actually, I can't think of anybody but the most fundamentalist Christian being offended, in this day and age, by the word 'hell'. One of my favourite expressions is "Bloody hell!" and I wouldn't have any qualms in saying this in any informal situation. |
I'll quote some phrases using the word :
PHRASES all hell broke loose informal =:suddenly there was pandemonium. "
"We were in this bar, just having a quiet drink, when two guys starting fighting, and then their friends got into it and all hell broke loose." ( as) —— as hell informal: used for emphasis :
'He's as guilty as hell.' be hell on informal: be very unpleasant or harmful to :
'The suspense, just waiting and not knowing one way or the other can be hell on the nerves.' come hell or high water :=whatever difficulties may occur.
for the hell of it informal:= just for fun
get the hell out ( of) (here) :informal: escape quickly from (a place or situation) :
"When the fight in the bar broke out, I said to my girlfriend, 'Let's get the hell out of here.'" give someone hell informal :=severely reprimand or make things very unpleasant for someone.
go to hell :informal: - used to express angry rejection of someone or something.
go through hell : endure an extremely unpleasant or difficult experience.
hell for leather : =as fast as possible.
hell's bells: informal = an exclamation of annoyance or anger.
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned: proverb:= a woman who has been rejected by a man can be ferociously angry and vindictive.
one hell of a —— :informa: -l used to emphasize something very bad or great :
"It cost us a hell of a lot of money." like hell :informal:
1 very fast, much, hard, etc. (used for emphasis) :
"It hurts like hell." 2 used in ironic expressions of scorn or disagreement :
"Marry my daughter? Like hell you will!" not a hope in hell: informal: = no chance at all.
play hell: informal:= make a fuss; create havoc. • cause damage :
"The rough road played hell with the tyres." the road to hell is paved with good intentions :proverb :=promises and plans must be put into action, or else they are useless.
there will be hell to pay :informal:= serious trouble will occur as a result of a previous action.
to hell with: informal :expressing one's scorn or lack of concern for (someone or something) :
"To hell with the consequences." till hell freezes over for an extremely long time or forever.
As you can see, a hell of a lot of phrases with a word that is soooooooooo rude we never use it!!