One-Point English Lesson: Taboo Words – Hell

There is a lot of slang and many idioms using “hell”

According to many religions, Hell (n) is the underworld, the place the devil lives, and a place of punishment in the afterlife for those who do bad or evil things in their life on earth. This mysterious place called hell is also the source of a fair number of slang expressions and idioms in English. You can hear this word and its expressions/slang in movies and TV shows quite often. Let’s have a look at the word hell today.

IMPORTANT! Keep in mind that using the word hell can be considered offensive, and because of that, hell is considered a “bad” or “taboo” word in English. Because of this, I am presenting this lesson for your information and for educational purposes only. While I think it is good to know these expressions, I can not recommend that you use them. Please, be careful!

We use the hell to emphasize the question word, usually (but not always) when we are upset or irritated.

  • What the hell are you doing?
  • Where the hell is Jack?
  • Who the hell left these dirty dishes here?
  • Why the hell did you say that to me?
  • How the hell did he do that?

We use go to hell when we are angry with someone. It means “go away!” or “I’m so angry at you!”

  • Go to hell!

We use be + hell to mean an unpleasant place or situation:

  • Driving to work in rush hour traffic is hell.
  • My job is hell!
  • It was hell trying to a parking space in Manhattan during the snowstorm.

We use [someone (or) something] from hell to mean an unpleasant person or situation:

  • Last night at the restaurant we had the waiter from hell. He spilled my wine but didn’t apologize!
  • Jane hates her new job. She said she has the boss from hell.
  • Tom had the vacation from hell. He lost his passport, got his wallet stolen and then missed the flight coming home.

We use a/one hell of a + [noun] to mean “a really great/impressive [noun]” in a positive meaning.

  • That was a hell of a party last night. I really enjoyed it!
  • That is one hell of a big birthday cake!
  • Did you see the baseball game last night? That was a hell of a home run!

We also can use hell to emphasize our yes or no response in a conversation:

  • Jack: Did you enjoy the party?
  • Joe: Hell yes! (Yes, very much!)
  • Jane: Do you like that guy?
  • Cathy: Hell no! (No way!)

Have you heard hell in a movie or TV show recently? How was it used? Leave a comment here and let me know. Would you like to learn more Taboo words? Let me know



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Thanks for studying today!

English Lesson: Idioms from Sex And The City [Hook Up With]

English Lesson: Idioms from Sex And The City [Hook Up With]

She hooked up with him

Today we will start looking at some idioms and slang from the hit HBO series, Sex and The City, Season 1, Episode 1. Careful, this program uses sexual language and topics. This English lesson is written for adults.

Hook up with [someone] means to get together or make a connection with someone. There are generally two different ways to use this idiom, and each has its own nuance. Have a look at this line:

 “Elizabeth was attractive and bright and right away she hooked up with one of the city’s typically eligible bachelors.”

1.  You can hook up with someone for romance or sex. In SATC, it seems like this is the implied meaning:

    • Elizabeth hooked up with Joe.
    • Tony went to the club with his friends because they wanted to hook up with some women.
    • Did you hook up with anyone at your high school reunion?

 2. You can hook up with someone for a hobby, interest, or a business service:

    • My laptop broke, so Lori hooked me up with her computer tech.
    • Paul McCartney first hooked up with John Lennon in art school. That is how The Beatles began.
    • I’m trying to hook up with someone who likes sailing, so if you know anyone please let me know.

Practice questions:

  1. Do you know anyone who goes to clubs to hook up with someone?
  2. Have you tried to hook up with a repairman, or technician?
  3. Think of your favorite pop or rock group. Where and when did the members hook up with each other?

Thanks for studying with me today. If you have any comments or feedback on this lesson, please let me know.

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  • The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
  • How to USE the phrasal verb.
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  • A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.

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English Lesson: Slang & Idioms At The Office

English Lesson: Slang & Idioms At The Office

Working 24/7

Ted and Jenny work in the same office. Betty is their boss. Check out their conversation:

  • Jenny: Hey Ted! What’s up. You look bummed.
  • Ted: I am. I’ve been working 24/7 this week to finish the presentation for the big meeting next week.
  • Jenny: So how is it going?
  • Ted: Terrible. I showed it to Betty this week and she said it was no good. It really burns me up.
  • Jenny: No way!
  • Ted: Yeah, so now, I’m back to square one.
  • Jenny: That stinks. I’m sorry to hear that.

Now, let’s look at the slang and idioms used in the conversation:

Bummed means disappointed. We often use be, seem & look with bummed”

  • You look bummed.
  • Ted seems bummed today. I wonder what happened.
  • I’m bummed. My car broke down today.

24/7 (twenty-four/seven) means twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. We use this both literally to refer to time, and figuratively to mean non-stop.

  • The convenience store is open 24/7 (literal meaning: the store never closes)
  • I’ve been working 24/7 this week to finish the presentation (figurative meaning: I have worked very hard and a lot of hours)

Burns [someone] up means makes [someone] very upset. We often use words referring to fire and high temperature to talk about being upset or angry.

  • The boss made me redo my presentation. It really burns me up.
  • Inconsiderate drivers really burn me up.

Back to square one means you need to do something from the beginning again. Even though you completed the task, you need to redo it.

  • The boss didn’t like my presentation, so now I am back to square one. (I have to redo my presentation)
  • I just assembled this des, but I am missing a part. I need to go back to square one. (I have to take it apart, and try to assemble it once more from step 1)

That stinks means “that’s too bad” or “that’s a shame.” We use that stinks when we respond to hearing negative or bad news:

  • Joe didn’t get the promotion? That stinks.
  • The restaurant ran out of my favorite dish! That stinks.

Practice questions: Answer the questions in a full sentence and be sure to use the key expressions in your answer:

  1. What has made you bummed recently?
  2. Have you ever worked 24/7?
  3. What has happened at work or school that burns you up?
  4. Talk about the last time you did something, but then had to go back to square one.
  5. Talk about a situation where you wanted to say, that stinks.

Thanks for studying with me today.  I hope you don’t have to work too hard!

NEW for 2012! 109 Phrasal Verbs – 116-page eBook
Including…

  • The DEFINITION of each phrasal verb.
  • How to USE the phrasal verb.
  • The STRUCTURE showing the grammar pattern of the phrasal verb.
  • EXAMPLE sentences to see how the phrasal verb is used in context.
  • A PRACTICE question to give you the chance to use the phrasal verb.

Just $5!
Would you like a FREE 15-page sample? Click here for more information.

English Idiom: Pull an All-Nighter!

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? When you stay awake all night to do something, we say you pull an all-nighter. You can pull an all-nighter to study for an exam, play video games, or drink alcohol.

  • Joe pulled an all-nighter to study for his History exam, and he got an A!
  • I got so focused on my game, that I didn’t realize I was pulling an all-nighter
  • Since they had a three-day weekend, they decided to pull an all-nighter and stay at the bar downtown.

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter? What were you doing?