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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

fresh hell en · NOUN

Etymology

Quote Investigator offers a convincing analysis of this phrase's origins: it is apparent that Dorothy Parker's use of it had earlier influences or antecedents, but her use of it led others to further popularize it.

Meanings

  1. (colloquial) A new undesirable situation.
    • What fresh hell is this?
    • So what further fresh hells await the woman fool enough to think that this guy would be different? 2000, Jonathan Edwards, Addie Stephen, Coming Clean, page 89:
  2. (colloquial) Used in what-questions for emphasis.
    • What in the fresh hell is going on?

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
fresh hells Number=Plur lexicographic