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Expression: Colder than hell



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
"The toothache" vs "A toothache" | Couldan't, shouldan't, wouldan't :) :)
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Expression: Colder than hell Sat Sep 09, 2006 22:54 pm  Expression: Colder than hell
 

Hi

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

Does it mean very cold? What is the origin?

Tom
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Hellish as hell Sat Sep 09, 2006 23:20 pm  Hellish as hell
 

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...
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Expression: Colder than hell Sat Sep 09, 2006 23:39 pm  Expression: Colder than hell
 

.
And there are also the idioms
"when hell freezes over" (which means never)
AND
"until hell freezes over" (which means forever).
Wink
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Expression: Colder than hell Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:25 am  Expression: Colder than hell
 

Quote:
looking like hell warmed over

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

Tom

PS: I think there should be a booklet available on Google!
Tom
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Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 1976

Expression: Colder than hell Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:50 am  Expression: Colder than hell
 

Hi Tom

I think that's an alternative way to say "look like death warmed over":
http://www.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
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"The toothache" vs "A toothache" | Couldan't, shouldan't, wouldan't :) :)
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Expression: Colder than hell All times are GMT + 2 Hours
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