phr. a hell of a 〈口〉
1. 糟糕的，坏透的；很艰难的；很麻烦的
The company is in a hell of a mess. 这家公司情况糟透了。
He had a hell of a job to clear all the stones from the garden. 他把花园里的石子全都清除掉真够费劲的。
2. 极好的；特别大 (或响) 的；极度的，异常的
We had a hell of a time on holiday last year. 我们去年度假时玩得很痛快。
a hell of a risk 极大的风险
a hell of a yell 震耳欲聋的叫声
a hell of a quiet dog 异常安静的一条狗
a hell of a lot 〈口〉
1. 许多，大量
A hell of a lot has happened. 发生了许许多多事情。
I know a hell of a lot about him. 有关他的事我知道得很多很多。
A hell of a lot of people like this novel. 许许多多的人喜欢这部小说。
He has a hell of a lot of money. 他有好多好多钱。
2. 远远；非常
She's a hell of a lot prettier than her sister. 她比她的姐姐漂亮多了。
She likes her child a hell of a lot. 她非常喜欢她的孩子。
a hell of a note 〈口〉令人瞠目结舌的事情；怪事；坏事
a hell of a (或 one) way to run a railroad 〈俚〉糟糕的工作方法，繁复低效的工作方法
(all) hell breaks (或 is broken 或 is let) loose 大乱起来，喧闹起来，闹翻天
If a man is found dead suddenly, all hell is let loose. 如果突然发现某人死了，马上就会一片混乱。
It was like all hell let loose in the bombed town. 遭受轰炸的城镇一片混乱。
as hell 很，非常
I'm sorry (grateful) as hell about all of this. 对这一切我非常抱歉 (感激)。
beat (the) hell out of 猛击；痛打
be hell for 对…极其关心；竭力坚持
He's hell for punctuality. 他竭力坚持要准时。
be hell on 〈美口〉
1. 对…来说很痛苦 (或很不愉快，很困难)
I do know it's been hell on you. 我确实知道这一阵真够你受的。
2. 对…十分严厉 (或苛刻)
She was hell on her servants. 她对待仆人很苛刻。
3. 对…极端有害，对…具有很大破坏性
It's going to be hell on wheels. 这对车轮将十分有害。
catch hell 1. 〈俚〉大受申斥，挨骂；受重罚
He'll catch hell for coming home late. 他若回家晚了将挨一顿臭骂。
2. 〈美口〉遭毁坏；受重伤
come hell or high water 不论有什么困难 (或障碍)，不管发生什么事
I am determined to finish the job come hell or high water. 不管有多大困难，我决心把那项工作做完。
for the hell of it 〈口〉仅仅为了取乐，玩玩而已；为了追求刺激
frighten (或 scare) the hell out of sb. 把某人吓得要死，使某人惊恐万状
Some of the films frightened the hell out of children. 有些电影小孩看了吓得要死。
from hell to breakfast 〈美俚〉狠狠地，猛烈地
get hell 〈俚〉挨臭骂；受重罚
get the hell out (of) 立即离开，很快脱身
You get the hell out of here. Now. 你给我滚。马上。
give sb. (merry) hell 给某人吃苦头；使某人很不好受；申斥某人，严厉批评某人；狠揍某人
We gave him hell on this issue. 我们在这个问题上狠狠地批评了他。
go through hell (and high water) 赴汤蹈火，出生入死；经受重重困难
go to hell 〈口〉
1. 越来越糟糕，恶化
The whole town's gone to hell, with that new mayor. 那个新市长上任后，全城情况越来越糟。
Old Joe's gone to hell a bit lately. 老乔最近情况不大好。
2. [咒骂语] 见你的鬼，去你的
go to hell in a handbasket (或 a bucket) 〈美口〉急剧恶化
harrow hell 〈古〉征服地狱 (相传基督下地狱去拯救正直的灵魂)
Hell and Tommy 〈俚〉彻底毁灭
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned 〈谚〉爱情失落女，必怀报复心
hell for leather 〈口〉飞快地，以危险的高速
He was running hell for leather across the grass. 他飞快地跑过草地。
Five cars go hell for leather for the fastest time. 五辆汽车风驰电掣争夺第一。
He rode hell for leather down the street. 他策马(或骑车)飞驰过街。
hell on wheels 〈俚〉混乱的场面；闹翻天的地方
hell to pay 〈口〉大麻烦；重罚；痛骂
If he's late, there'll be hell to pay. 他如果迟到，就要吃苦头了。
in hell [用以加强语气，表示恼怒、惊奇等] 究竟，到底
Where in hell have you been? 你究竟到哪里去了?
Who in hell are you? 你到底是谁?
knock (the) hell out of ＝ beat (the) hell out of
like hell1. 非常；拼命地；猛烈地；过度地；极快地
I hate like hell to wake you up. 我非常不愿意弄醒你。
He is working like hell. 他在拚命地工作。
laugh like hell 狂笑
My tooth hurts like hell. 我牙齿痛得要命。
drive like hell 风驰电掣般地驾车
2. [用于句首强调不同意、不相信等] 绝不 (会)，肯定不
A writer! Like hell he is! 作家! 他不可能是作家!
A: You can't say that. B: Like hell I can't! 甲：你不能那么说。乙：见鬼，怎么不能!
A: You stay here. B: Like hell! 甲：你留在这里。乙：我才不呢!
not a hope (chance) in hell 没有一点希望 (机会)，绝不可能
one hell of a 〈主美〉＝ a hell of a
one hell of a lot ＝ a hell of a lot
play (merry) hell with〈口〉
1. 破坏；毁坏；损害；给…制造麻烦
play hell with laws 破坏法律
If you drive badly it plays hell with the tyres of your car. 如果你胡乱驾驶，那会损坏你汽车的轮胎。
2. 〈主英〉对…大发脾气
raise hell 〈口〉大闹起来，大吵大闹；引起骚动；制造麻烦；叫嚷着反对
They raised hell with neighbourhood children. 他们跟邻居的孩子们大吵起来。
raise hell about pollution 为污染问题大兴问罪之师
the hell 1. [用以加强语气] 究竟，到底 (＝ in hell)
Who the hell are you? 你到底是谁?
2. [用以加强语气，表示惊讶、不信、厌恶等]
Take it the hell out of the kitchen! 快把这东西扔出厨房!
The hell with him! 让他见鬼去吧!
the hell of a 〈主英〉＝ a hell of a
The hell of it is ... 〈美俚〉妙就妙在…；麻烦就在于…
The hell of the plan is that it works. 这计划妙就妙在居然行得通。
The hell of it is, how do you refute the charges? 问题在于你如何驳斥那些指责。
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. 〈谚〉空言不如力行，空谈不如实干。
the hell you say 那真出人意外
to beat hell 见 beat
to hell and gone 〈俚〉[用以表示夸张] 极远；极度；永远
He says London is to hell and gone from here. 他说伦敦离这儿很远很远。
The line parted and the boat was carried to hell and gone. 绳断了，小船被带往远方 (回不来了)。
to hell with 〈口〉让…见鬼去吧
No need to worry, to hell with all this. 不必操心，让这一切都见鬼去吧!
until (或 till) hell freezes over 永远不可能发生
what the hell 〈口〉[用以表示不在乎或无可奈何等]
I know the fare is expensive, but what the hell. 我知道车费很贵，但这有什么关系。
What the hell, I can go next week instead. 没事，我可以改在下星期去。
[OE,与helan to cover, ON hel, Goth halja hell, OHG hella 有关]