22 PHRASE If you go through hell , or if someone puts you through hell , you have a very difficult or unpleasant time. [INFORMAL ] □ All of you seem to have gone through hell making this record.
23 PHRASE If you say you hope to hell or wish to hell that something is true, you are emphasizing that you strongly hope or wish it is true. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ I hope to hell you're right.
24 PHRASE If you say that you will do something come hell or high water , you are emphasizing that you are determined to do it, in spite of the difficulties involved. [EMPHASIS ] □ I've always managed to get into work come hell or high water.
25 PHRASE You can say ' what the hell ' when you decide to do something in spite of the doubts that you have about it. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ What the hell, I thought, at least it will give the lazy old man some exercise.
26 PHRASE If you say ' to hell with ' something, you are emphasizing that you do not care about something and that it will not stop you from doing what you want to do. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ To hell with this, I'm getting out of here.
he'll /h I l, hiːl/ He'll is the usual spoken form of 'he will'. □ By the time he's twenty he'll know everyone worth knowing in Washington.
he ll-be nt also hellbent ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is hell-bent on doing something, you are emphasizing that they are determined to do it, even if this causes problems or difficulties for other people. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ on ] …a man who seems hell-bent on provoking controversy in his articles.
Hel|len|ic /hele n I k, -liː -/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Hellenic is used to describe the people, language, and culture of Ancient Greece.
hell|hole /he lhoʊl/ (hellholes ) N‑COUNT If you call a place a hellhole , you mean that it is extremely unpleasant, usually because it is dirty and uncomfortable. □ …stuck in this hellhole of a jail.
hell|ish /he l I ʃ/ ADJ You describe something as hellish to emphasize that it is extremely unpleasant. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ The atmosphere in Washington is hellish.
hel|lo ◆◇◇ /heloʊ / (hellos ) also hallo , hullo
1 CONVENTION You say ' Hello ' to someone when you meet them. [FORMULAE ] □ Hello, Trish. □ Do you want to pop your head in and say hallo to my girlfriend? ● N‑COUNT Hello is also a noun. □ The salesperson greeted me with a warm hello.
2 CONVENTION You say ' Hello ' to someone at the beginning of a phone conversation, either when you answer the phone or before you give your name or say why you are phoning. [FORMULAE ] □ A moment later, Cohen picked up the phone. 'Hello?'
3 CONVENTION You can call ' hello ' to attract someone's attention. □ Very softly, she called out: 'Hallo? Who's there?'
he ll-raiser (hell-raisers ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a hell-raiser , you mean that they often behave in a wild and unacceptable way, especially because they have drunk too much alcohol. [INFORMAL ]
hell|uva /he ləvə/ ADJ Some people say a helluva or one helluva to emphasize that something is very good, very bad, or very big. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ It taught me a helluva lot about myself. □ The man did one helluva job getting it all together.
helm /he lm/ (helms )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The helm of a boat or ship is the part that is used to steer it.
2 N‑SING You can say that someone is at the helm when they are leading or running a country or organization. □ He has been at the helm of Lonrho for 31 years.
hel|met /he lm I t/ (helmets )
1 N‑COUNT A helmet is a hat made of a strong material which you wear to protect your head.
2 → see also crash helmet
helms|man /he lmzmən/ (helmsmen ) N‑COUNT The helmsman of a boat is the person who is steering it.
help ◆◆◆ /he lp/ (helps , helping , helped )
1 VERB If you help someone, you make it easier for them to do something, for example by doing part of the work for them or by giving them advice or money. □ [V to-inf/inf] He has helped to raise a lot of money. □ [V ] You can of course help by giving them a donation directly. □ [V n] If you're not willing to help me, I'll find somebody who will. ● N‑UNCOUNT Help is also a noun. □ Thanks very much for your help. □ Always ask the pharmacist for help.
2 VERB If you say that something helps , you mean that it makes something easier to do or get, or that it improves a situation to some extent. □ [V to-inf/inf] The right style of swimsuit can help to hide, minimise or emphasise what you want it to. □ [V n] Building more motorways will help the environment by reducing pollution in cities. □ [V n to-inf/inf] Understanding these rare molecules will help chemists to find out what is achievable. □ [V ] I could cook your supper, though, if that would help.
3 VERB If you help someone go somewhere or move in some way, you give them support so that they can move more easily. □ [V n prep/adv] Martin helped Tanya over the rail. □ [V n inf/to-inf] She helped her sit up in bed so she could hold her baby.
4 N‑SING If you say that someone or something has been a help or has been some help , you mean that they have helped you to solve a problem. □ The books were not much help.
5 N‑UNCOUNT Help is action taken to rescue a person who is in danger. You shout ' help! ' when you are in danger in order to attract someone's attention so that they can come and rescue you. □ He was screaming for help. □ 'Help!' I screamed, turning to run.