hell
1. The brunt of another's anger, often relayed through scolding. If I get home past curfew again, I'm really going to catch hell from my parents! I know the boss gave Tom hell for the mistake in his report. Listen, you're gonna catch hell from the other committee members if you keep blowing off meetings.
2. Problems or challenges. This discrepancy in the budget is really giving me hell—I still haven't figured it out. A: "You're still putting that swing set together?" B: "Yes, it's really giving me hell. Look at the directions—can you figure out what I'm doing wrong?" Don't worry, some of these paper jams will really give you hell. Let me have a look at the printer.
3. A mild oath of surprise, exasperation, annoyance, frustration, or anger. Hell, I haven't seen you in years! Oh hell, would you let me finish my story? Hell, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*hell
and *the devil 1. Inf. a severe scolding. (*Typically: get ~ catch ~ give someone ∼. Use caution with hell.) The boss just gave me hell about it. I'm really going to give Tom hell when he gets home.
2. Inf. trouble; pain. (*Typically: give someone ∼. Use caution with hell.) My arthritis is giving me hell in this weather. This problem is giving us hell at the office.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.