give (one) hell
give (one) hell
1. To give someone a hard time by means of aggressive actions or attitude. I'd avoid the boss today—he's already given me hell.
2. To scold or reprimand someone, often severely. Mom will give you hell if you come home after curfew yet again.
3. To produce or present problems or challenges for one. This discrepancy in the budget is really giving me hell—I still haven't figured it out.
See also: give, hell
give them hell
An exclamation of encouragement for someone who is about to participate in something, often a competition, that is intended to motivate them to give their maximum effort in order to defeat their opponent ("them") or achieve success within that arena. "Them" is often shortened to "'em" or "em." Good luck out there, Dara! Give them hell! A: "I just don't know if I'm cut out for college." B: "Nonsense! You're gonna give 'em hell!"
See also: give, hell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
give someone hell
Also, give someone the devil. Scold someone harshly. For example, The boss gave them hell for not finishing in time, or Mom will give her the devil if she doesn't get home soon. Also see give it to, def. 1.
See also: give, hell, someone
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
give someone hell
1. If someone gives you hell, they make your life very unpleasant by behaving badly towards you. She gets teased at school. The children give her hell, particularly the older boys. Their younger son gives them hell.
2. If someone gives you hell, they shout at you or speak to you angrily because you have done something wrong. I got home three hours late and my mum gave me hell.
3. If a part of your body is giving you hell, it is very painful. My back's been giving me hell.
See also: give, hell, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
give someone (or get) hell
reprimand someone (or be reprimanded) severely. informalSee also: give, hell, someone
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
give somebody ˈhell
(informal)1 make life unpleasant for somebody: Her back is giving her hell at the moment; she’s in constant pain.
2 shout at or speak angrily to somebody because they have done something wrong: His mother gave him hell for coming home so late.
See also: give, hell, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
give someone hell
1. tv. to bawl someone out; to scold someone severely. (Use caution with hell.) The boss just gave me hell about it.
2. tv. to trouble someone. (Use caution with hell.) This problem is giving us hell at the office.
See also: give, hell, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- give somebody hell
- give someone hell
- give them hell
- come down on
- come down on (someone or something)
- read (one) a lecture
- drag (one) over the coals
- haul (someone) over the coals
- haul somebody over the coals
- haul someone over the coals