Idioms

helluva

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be a hell of a (person or thing)

"Hell of a," used to create good or bad emphasis, is often contracted colloquially as "helluva."
1. To be exceptionally good, exciting, or interesting. Marty sure is a helluva guy, always willing to lend his friends a hand! Two cars for the price of one? That's a hell of a deal! That was a hell of an action movie. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
2. To be exceptionally bad or difficult. This is a hell of a math assignment—I can't understand the first thing about it! Eesh, that is a helluva haircut. You're going to go out in public like that? Oh, it was a hell of a flight all right—three hours of nothing but turbulence!
See also: hell, of

be a helluva drug

slang To have an extremely intense and addictive effect on one, especially that which warps one's ability to make logical, rational decisions (similar to the effects of narcotics). Popularized by Rick James in the sketch show Chappelle's Show in reference to his addiction to cocaine. "Helluva" is a colloquial contraction of "hell of a." These corporate executives know that nostalgia is a helluva drug, so they're pushing hard to capitalize on what was popular among young adults when they were children. A: "I don't know what came over me. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I just couldn't say no to her." B: "Hey, man—love's a helluva drug." A: "He broke so many bones doing that skateboard jump. I don't even know why he would attempt it!" B: "Adrenaline must be a helluva a drug."
See also: drug, helluva

be one hell of a (person or thing)

"Hell of a," used to create good or bad emphasis, is often contracted colloquially as "helluva."
1. To be exceptionally good, exciting, or interesting. Marty sure is one helluva guy, always willing to lend his friends a hand! Two cars for the price of one? That's one hell of a deal! That was one hell of an action movie. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
2. To be exceptionally bad or difficult. This is one hell of a math assignment—I can't understand the first thing about it! Eesh, that is one helluva haircut. You're going to go out in public like that? Oh, it was one hell of a flight all right—three hours of nothing but turbulence!
See also: hell, of, one

helluva

1. Quite good or impressive. (A colloquial contraction of "hell of a.") That was one helluva a party you threw for Kelly. Everyone said they had such a great time. He's a helluva ballplayer. I wouldn't be surprised if he made it to the pros someday. Two cars for the price of one? That's a helluva deal!
2. Very difficult. I had a helluva time trying to change the flat tire. The lug nuts didn't want to budge. This is a helluva math assignment—I can't understand the first thing about it! I've had a helluva time getting anyone to take me seriously around here!

one hell of a (something or someone)

1. An exceptionally good, exciting, or interesting thing or person. Marty sure is one hell of a guy, always willing to lend his friends a hand! Two cars for the price of one? That's one hell of a deal! It started out slow, but this turned into one hell of an exciting movie!
2. An exceptionally bad or difficult thing, activity, or person. This is one hell of a math assignment—I can't understand the first thing about it! Boy, that is one hell of a haircut. You're going to go out in public like that?
See also: hell, of, one
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a hell of a someone or something

 and a helluva someone or something 
1. Inf. a very bad person or thing. (Use caution with hell.) That's a hell of a way to treat someone. He's a hell of a driver! Watch out! 2. Inf. a very good person or thing. (Use caution with hell.) He is one hell of a guy. We really like him. We had a helluva good time.
See also: hell, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

a (or one) hell of a —

used to emphasize something very bad or great. informal
1990 Stephen King The Stand If someone on the committee has been leaking, we're in a hell of a jam.
See also: hell, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

hell of a someone/something

and helluva someone/something
1. n. a very bad person or thing. (Use caution with hell.) That’s a hell of a way to treat someone.
2. n. a very good person or thing. (Use caution with hell.) He is one helluva guy. We really like him.
See also: hell, of, someone, something

helluva someone/something

verb
See hell of a someone/something
See also: helluva, someone, something
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
Or a Helluva Lot Better!" Rose Marie Ray, who has been mentoring other superwomen for years, shares an upbeat instructional guide that leads women to both survive and thrive beyond the tough choices they must make while juggling family, careers, and personal needs.
SuperWomen Do IT Less Or a Helluva Lot Better!
Owens wanted to put insult to injury after the match as he tried to Pedigree Zayn, but Rollins made the save, hitting the Prizefighter with a flying knee before Zayn got revenge on Owens with another Helluva Kick.
Owens retains Universal title at WWE Manila
It's a .303 British Enfield that has a helluva kick.
Second sight
Back on board, the boys called him frogman, Frank, one helluva fool
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* The Helluva Hunt (www.helluvahunt.com) in Douglas, Wyo., is for antelope.
Big-game hunts
Deputy news editor Matthew Fishbane offers can't-miss reportage and a helluva storyboth quirky and necessarytoday in Tablet Magazine, with a dispatch from outside Mbale, Uganda.
All Ugandans Should Be This Jewish
If they did, like most of the audience, they would wise up to the play's too obvious twist a helluva lot faster.
In a Forest Dark and Deep
Me, the Mob and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James and the Shondells comes from a rock star who's compiled 24 gold singles and 9 platinum albums.
Me, the Mob and the Music
"When all is said and done, one of the things I hope will come out of my life is that my peers will say 'You know, that Watson, he was a helluva player'."
TOM WATSON is not ruling [...]
Those crazy European guys, they really know how to have one helluva a crazy time.
Eurovision contest not a kick in the Balkans; ANALYSIS
For all his real-world experience and in-depth knowledge of vitamins, natural health products and nutraceuticals (foods with health or medical benefits), Deline admits the job poses "a helluva challenge" to move NOCI from a concept to a functioning organization with a marketing roll-out anticipated for mid-2007.
New director cultivates forest bioproducts for markets
So it was somewhat of a surprise when we sat down to talk about the 2006 Diesel Progress Newsmaker of the Year, we started throwing names, and ideas and candidates around, and when we were done, said "wow, that's a helluva list."
The new million
No Fidel fan here: Never been amused by People who put poets and journalists in jail--although I did notice The New York Times recently favored the former dictator of Paraguay with an obituary headline describing him as "colorful." I guess a good fascist murderer like Alfredo Stroessner was a helluva lot colorfuller than ol' Fidel.
Fidel, you ol' fart
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