Expression: Colder than hell

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi

Could you please explain the meaning of colder than hell to me?

Does it mean very cold? What is the origin?

Tom

2

Yes, Tom, ‘colder than hell’ means ‘extremely cold’. The word ‘hell’ is often used as a (usually) negative intensifier:

  • colder/hotter/darker/noisier/worse, etc. than hell

  • mad/crowded/bored/frustrated/burning/angry, etc. as hell

  • freezing/raining/snoring/working, etc. like hell

  • looking like hell warmed over…

3

.
And there are also the idioms
“when hell freezes over” (which means never)
AND
“until hell freezes over” (which means forever).
:wink:

4

Could you please tell me the meaning and use of this idiom?
Again it was difficult to find it on Google! :shock:

Tom

PS: I think there should be a booklet available on Google!

5

Hi Tom

I think that’s an alternative way to say “look like death warmed over”:
answers.com/topic/look-like-death

Sometimes idioms have variations, so doing a Google search can be tricky. In the idiom above, you can also use “feel” instead of “look” and sometimes you’ll hear “warmed up” instead of “warmed over”.

Try a Google search with:
“warmed over”

  • OR -
    “warmed over” idiom

For all hell idioms generally (there are a lot of them):
hell idiom

Amy