Definition of hell

hellnoun

địa ngục

/hɛl/

Definition of undefined

The word "hell" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The earliest recorded sense of the word "hell" dates back to the 9th century, when it was used to describe a pit or a ditch. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to refer to the underworld or the afterlife. In Old English, "hell" was spelled "helle" or "hali" and was derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*hailaz", which meant "healthy" or "wholesome". This may seem counterintuitive, but it's thought that the Proto-Germanic word referred to the earth or the underworld as a place where the dead were laid to rest, implying a state of rest or peace. The word "hell" was later influenced by Christian theology, which writings often described the underworld as a place of eternal torment and suffering. By the 14th century, the word "hell" had taken on a largely negative connotation, referring to a place of suffering and punishment.

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the place believed to be the home of devils and where bad people go after death

nơi được cho là nhà của quỷ dữ và là nơi người xấu đi sau khi chết

Example:
  • He was terrified of going to hell when he died.

    Ông sợ phải xuống địa ngục khi chết.

  • They were threatened with spending eternity in hell.

    Họ bị đe dọa phải sống đời đời trong địa ngục.

Extra examples:
  • Lava poured out of the volcano, glowing like the fires of hell.

    Dung nham phun ra từ núi lửa, rực sáng như ngọn lửa địa ngục.

  • tormented souls in hell

    linh hồn đau khổ trong địa ngục

a very unpleasant experience or situation in which people suffer very much

một kinh nghiệm hoặc tình huống rất khó chịu trong đó mọi người phải chịu đựng rất nhiều

Example:
  • The last three months have been hell.

    Ba tháng qua quả là địa ngục.

  • He went through hell during the trial.

    Anh ta đã trải qua địa ngục trong phiên tòa.

  • Her parents made her life hell.

    Cha mẹ cô đã biến cuộc sống của cô thành địa ngục.

  • Being totally alone is my idea of hell on earth.

    Hoàn toàn cô đơn là ý tưởng của tôi về địa ngục trên trái đất.

  • He was in a hell of his own making.

    Anh ấy đang ở trong địa ngục do chính mình tạo ra.

  • For the last few weeks my whole family has been in hell because of this.

    Trong vài tuần qua cả gia đình tôi đã ở trong địa ngục vì điều này.

  • Since she moved in, life has been hell for the other residents.

    Kể từ khi cô chuyển đến, cuộc sống trở thành địa ngục đối với những cư dân khác.

  • It was hell getting through airport security.

    Thật là khó khăn khi phải qua cửa an ninh sân bay.

Extra examples:
  • I'm never going to escape this hell.

    Tôi sẽ không bao giờ thoát khỏi địa ngục này.

  • It was sheer hell having to sit through hours of boring lectures!

    Thật là địa ngục khi phải ngồi hàng giờ với những bài giảng nhàm chán!

Related words and phrases

a swear word that some people use when they are annoyed or surprised or to emphasize something. Its use is offensive to some people.

một từ chửi thề mà một số người sử dụng khi họ khó chịu hoặc ngạc nhiên hoặc để nhấn mạnh điều gì đó. Việc sử dụng nó gây khó chịu cho một số người.

Example:
  • Oh hell, I've burned the pan.

    Ôi chết tiệt, tôi đã đốt cháy cái chảo.

  • What the hell do you think you are doing?

    Bạn nghĩ bạn đang làm cái quái gì vậy?

  • Go to hell!

    Đi chết đi!

  • I can't really afford it, but, what the hell (= it doesn't matter), I'll get it anyway.

    Tôi thực sự không đủ tiền mua nó, nhưng, cái quái gì vậy (= nó không quan trọng), dù sao thì tôi cũng sẽ mua được.

  • He's as guilty as hell.

    Anh ta thật tội lỗi.

  • ‘Do you understand?’ ‘Hell, no. I don't.’

    ‘Bạn có hiểu không?’ ‘Chết tiệt, không. Tôi không.'

Idioms

all hell broke loose
(informal)suddenly there was a lot of noise, arguing, fighting, etc.
  • There was a loud bang and then all hell broke loose.
  • beat/kick (the) hell out of somebody/something | knock hell out of somebody/something
    (informal)to hit somebody/something very hard
  • He was a dirty player and loved to kick hell out of the opposition.
  • bug the hell/crap/shit out of somebody
    (offensive, slang)to annoy somebody very much
  • The song just bugs the hell out of me.
  • catch hell
    (informal)to be punished or spoken to angrily about something
  • If your dad finds out you'll really catch hell!
  • the devil/hell to pay
    (informal)a lot of trouble
  • There'll be hell to pay when he finds out.
  • (just) for the hell of it
    (informal)just for fun; for no real reason
  • They stole the car just for the hell of it.
  • from hell
    (informal)used to describe a very unpleasant person or thing; the worst that you can imagine
  • They are the neighbours from hell.
  • get the hell out (of…)
    (informal)to leave a place very quickly
  • Let's get the hell out of here.
  • give somebody hell
    to make life unpleasant for somebody
  • He used to give his mother hell when he was a teenager.
  • My new shoes are giving me hell (= are hurting me).
  • to shout at or speak angrily to somebody
  • Dad will give us hell when he sees that mess.
  • go to hell in a handbasket
    (informal)to get into a very bad state
  • This firm's gone to hell in a handbasket since the new management took over.
  • hell for leather
    (British English, old-fashioned, informal)as quickly as possible
  • to ride hell for leather
  • hell hath no fury (like a woman scorned)
    used to refer to somebody, usually a woman, who has reacted very angrily to something, especially the fact that her husband or partner has been unfaithful
    a/one hell of a… | a/one helluva…
    (slang)used to give emphasis to what a person is saying
  • The firm was in a hell of a mess when he took over.
  • This holiday is going to cost a hell of a lot of money.
  • It must have been one hell of a party.
  • It’s taken him a hell of a long time to get here.
  • That's one helluva big house you've got.
  • (come) hell or high water
    despite any difficulties
  • I was determined to go, come hell or high water.
  • Hell’s teeth
    (British English, old-fashioned, informal)used to express anger or surprise
  • Hell’s teeth, I promised I’d be back by two.
  • like a bat out of hell
    (old-fashioned, informal)very fast
  • She was driving like a bat out of hell.
  • like hell
    (informal)used for emphasis
  • She worked like hell for her exams.
  • My broken finger hurt like hell.
  • (informal)used when you are refusing permission or saying that something is not true
  • ‘I'm coming with you.’ ‘Like hell you are (= you certainly are not).’
  • not have/stand a cat in hell’s chance (of doing something)
    (informal)to have no chance at all
    not have a hope (in hell) (of doing something)
    (informal)to have no chance at all
  • She doesn't have a hope of winning.
  • You don't have a hope in hell of finding a job.
  • not have a snowball’s chance in hell
    (informal)to have no chance at all
  • There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that I'll wear that thing!
  • play (merry) hell with something/somebody
    (British English, informal)to affect something/somebody badly
  • Driving on these rough roads has played hell with my tyres.
  • raise hell
    (informal)to protest angrily, especially in a way that causes trouble for somebody
    the road to hell is paved with good intentions
    (saying)it is not enough to intend to do good things; you must actually do them
    scare, annoy, etc. the hell out of somebody
    (informal)to frighten, annoy, etc. somebody very much
    to hell and back
    (informal)used to say that somebody has been through a difficult situation
  • We'd been to hell and back together and we were still good friends.
  • to hell with somebody/something
    (informal)used to express anger or dislike and to say that you no longer care about somebody/something and will take no notice of them
  • ‘To hell with him,’ she thought, ‘I'm leaving.’