like hell
26
9.8
- idiom
- NSFW
:
ni de coña
- Like hell we're splitting up.
- said, "like hell"
- hurt like hell
- Oh, like hell
Examples
-
Like hell I'm not comin'!
-
"I really haven't given it much thought." "Like hell you haven't."
Fiction book (1997) -
Please, like hell he will.
-
- Like hell, they are.
-
Did they cure my stomach? Like hell they did!
Fiction book (1998) -
Becky calls to a TV crew from Hard Copy: "Like hell I will."
Fiction book (1997) -
Like hell it'll be OK!
-
"In a way, Harry, it's much simpler and cleaner if Valeria is dead." "Like hell."
Fiction book (2002) -
Felicia shook her head, "like hell we will."
Fiction book (2000) -
Like hell I will apologize for something I didn’t do!
Synonyms
3
9.9
Shows you do not believe something will happen
A strong spoken reaction showing surprise and disbelief
Antonyms
How Likely
Surface Forms
Morphology
like + hell
The phrase 'like hell' is an idiomatic, colloquial intensifier whose ironic meaning ('not at all' / strong disagreement) does not follow directly from the literal senses of 'like' and 'hell'. A B1 learner who knows the constituents is unlikely to predict the sarcastic/negational use because 'like' here is not the usual comparative/similarity marker and 'hell' functions as an expletive intensifier, making the overall meaning language-specific and unpredictable.
Etymology
Like hell is often said sharply to show you do not believe or agree, using the idea that something would only happen in terrible hell. That's why it is used to mean 'not at all' or 'no way'.