Expression: Colder than hell

[Tom]

Hi

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

Does it mean very cold? What is the origin?

Tom

[Conchita]

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...

[Yankee]

.
And there are also the idioms
"when hell freezes over" (which means never)
AND
"until hell freezes over" (which means forever).

[Tom]

[Yankee]

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