...as hell

[Super Sonic]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the usage of "as hell" which we use to refer to something as being "too much" in slang, right (e.g. "The exam was hard as hell.", "The game was boring as hell.") ? Then, is the below usage correct, too?

1- "The weather yesterday was cold as hell." How do the native speakers of English react to this sentence? Especially the "as hell" part? Is it plausible? If so, then does the sentence mean: "The weather yesterday was as cold as hell (is), which is not cold at all." or "The weather yesterday was too cold."

Hope I was clear. Thanks in advance for your invaluable replies.

[Ouisch]

Even though technically "hell" is considered an expletive, it has become common enough that the majority of the population no longer considers it to be offensive.

"As hell" is a superlative to describe the utmost or the ultimate. All of your examples are correct (which leads to a common rhetorical question - why are some things "hot as hell" and others "cold as hell"? )

[amigos4]

Originally Posted by Super Sonic

Hi,

I have a question regarding the usage of "as hell" which we use to refer to something as being "too much" in slang, right (e.g. "The exam was hard as hell.", "The game was boring as hell.") ? Then, is the below usage correct, too?

1- "The weather yesterday was cold as hell." How do the native speakers of English react to this sentence? Especially the "as hell" part? Is it plausible? If so, then does the sentence mean: "The weather yesterday was as cold as hell (is), which is not cold at all." or "The weather yesterday was too cold."

Hope I was clear. Thanks in advance for your invaluable replies.

Super Sonic,

'Cold as hell' is an oxymoron; a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Slightly Pregnant' or 'Jumbo Shrimp'.
It is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, terms, phrases or ideas are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means.
Oxymorons are not necessarily mistakes or errors. They make effective titles and appealing phrases, and some are meant to be humorous.
In your example, 'cold as hell' is said to show that the weather is as cold as hell (is hot)!

Cheers,
Amigos4