give someone hell
The phrase "give someone hell" is an informal idiom used to express severe criticism, discomfort, or trouble.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Interpersonal Communication
(informal)To criticize or reprimand someone harshly.
Example
- The manager gave him hell for missing the meeting.
B2General
(informal)To make someone's life difficult or unpleasant.
Example
- The teenagers give their teacher hell every day.
B2General
(informal)To cause significant trouble or discomfort.
Example
- Her broken ankle is giving her hell.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "give someone hell":
give someone a hard timegive someone the businessgive someone griefcatch helllet someone have itraise hellgive someone the shitsgo to hellto helllike hellthe hellburn in hellkick someone's assrattle someone's cagegive someone the heave-hoeat someone alivebeat someone's assgive someone a breakas helltell someone where to shove itgive someone line