LIKE HELL

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does like hell mean? 

• LIKE HELL (adverb)
  The adverb LIKE HELL has 2 senses:

1. (informal) with great speed or effort or intensity; used for emphasis

2. used ironically to indicate the opposite of what is stated

  Familiarity information: LIKE HELL used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIKE HELL (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(informal) with great speed or effort or intensity; used for emphasis

Synonyms:

like crazy; like hell; like mad; like sin; like the devil; like thunder

Context example:

fought like the devil

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Used ironically to indicate the opposite of what is stated

Synonyms:

like fun; like hell

Context example:

says he'll help me? Like hell he will!

 Context examples 

An' there's a lot of work in 'm yet. He's good for years to come. An' I do like him. I like him like hell.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I like you like hell, you know.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

When we find him he is swearing. He swears like hell. Never have I heard a man swear like that man.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Ever noticed that cooks drink like hell? —an' bakers, too? It's the work. They've sure got to.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

That winter I refused twelve hundred for 'm. I didn't sell 'm then, an' I ain't a-sellin' 'm now. Besides, I think a mighty lot of that dog. I've ben lookin' for 'm for three years. It made me fair sick when I found he'd ben stole—not the value of him, but the—well, I liked 'm like hell, that's all, beggin' your pardon.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

"But work like hell," the other added.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Sometimes she feel good and she sing. Her voice is like a silver bell, and I feel good all over like when I go into church at Holy Cross Mission, and when she sing I feel strong and paddle like hell.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

After I've ben workin' like hell all week I just got to booze up. If I didn't, I'd cut my throat or burn up the premises.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)