Dictionary

go to hell en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio
• [ˌɡoʊ̯‿ɾə ˈhɛɫ] (US)
• /ˌɡəʊ tə ˈhɛl/ (UK)
• /ˌɡoʊ tə ˈhɛl/ (US)

Etymology

The third sense is first attested in Shakespeare. The second sense is a variation of older go to the devil. The literal sense is attested since Old English with various verbs for "to go".

Meanings

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, to, hell.
2. To go out the window; become ruined; become useless.
   • I'm really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell. In America, we've taken bold action to swiftly shut down uncontrolled migration. Once we started detaining and deporting everyone who crossed the border and removing illegal aliens from the United States, they simply stopped coming. 2025 September 23, Donald Trump, speech at United Nations:
   • In my opinion, they want us to lose. If we lose Georgia, we lose the whole thing and our country goes to hell. 2024 August 4, George Chidi, quoting Donald Trump, “Name-calling and hyperbole: Trump continues fear-mongering fest at Georgia rally”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • Well, that plan has gone to hell.
3. (derogatory, offensive) An expression of anger and contempt directed at someone, especially after that individual has committed a serious crime or transgression.
   • You want me to voluntarily work the weekend without pay? Go to hell!
   • But when he had urged his request four or five times, and we thought on what evil the country folk say that they have at times suffered from the Vettar, when they have chanced to swear at them, or with uncivil words bid them go to hell, I took the resolution to read some prayers over my wife, and to bless her, and bid her in God's name go with him. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 123:
   • "Oh, go to hell!" said Silas, and kicked open his own unlatched door. 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
   • I shook my head and held up my rifle. "You'll have to go aloft to do it, and the first man that gets into the shrouds will get this." "Then she can go to hell for all we care," he said, with emphatic conclusiveness. 1914, Jack London, The Mutiny of the Elsinore, Chapter XLVI:
   • Let Fortune goe to hell for it, not I. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 173, line 21:
   • Why did Nancy do that to Jake? She can go to hell.

Forms

Relateds

go jump off a building · go jump in a lake · go to the devil · go die in a fire · go jump off a cliff · to hell in a handbasket

Synonyms

go to pot (to be ruined or useless) · go to Halifax (go to Hell) · go down the toilet (to be ruined or useless) · go down the drain (to be ruined or useless) · get fucked (in imperative) · go out the window (to be ruined or useless)

Translations (82)

pl zepsuć się (to be ruined, become useless) · cmn 去死吧 (interjection) · pl idź do diabła (interjection) · fr tomber à l'eau (to be ruined, become useless) · de den Bach runtergehen (to be ruined, become useless) · ro du-te în iad (interjection) · ur بھاڑ میں جا! (interjection) · cmn 失效 (to be ruined, become useless) · es Thesaurus:irse a la verga (to be ruined, become useless) · da gå ad Pommern til (interjection) · es váyase al infierno (interjection) · el άντε στο διάολο (interjection) · fr allez au diable (interjection) · hi भाड़ में जा (interjection) · fr va au diable (interjection) · fr partir en fumée (to be ruined, become useless) · fi painu helvettiin (interjection) · ms pergi mampus (interjection) · fr aller se faire voir (interjection) · da ad helvede til (interjection) · da gå ad helvede til (interjection) · yi גיי אין דר׳ערד (interjection) · pt vá para o inferno! (interjection) · fi mennä päin helvettiä (to be ruined, become useless) · ru пошёл к чёрту (interjection) · sh иди у пакао (interjection) · eo iru kacen (interjection) · ro se duce dracului (to be ruined, become useless) · it andare all'inferno (to be ruined, become useless) · ro se duce naibii (to be ruined, become useless) · pt ir por água abaixo (to be ruined, become useless) · no dra til helvete (interjection) · es Thesaurus:vete a la verga (interjection) · ru пошла́ к чёрту (interjection) · tr cehenneme git (interjection) · it andare a cagare (interjection) · rsk идз до чорта (interjection) · sv fara åt helvete (interjection) · grc ἔρρε (interjection) · sh idi do đavola (interjection) · bg върви в ада (interjection) · ro se duce naiba (to be ruined, become useless) · fr va mourir (interjection) · sv dra åt helvete (interjection) · hi भाड़ में जाओ (interjection) · pt vai para o inferno! (interjection) · ms pergi mampus (to be ruined, become useless) · ga téigí go h-ifreann (interjection) · cy dos i uffern (interjection) · es irse al infierno (to be ruined, become useless) · de fahr zu Hölle (interjection) · pt ir ralo abaixo (to be ruined, become useless) · it andare al diavolo (interjection) · ro du-te naibii (interjection) · sh idi u pakao (interjection) · ru идет к черту (to be ruined, become useless) · he לך לעזאזל (interjection) · rsk идз до дябла (interjection) · ga téigh go h-ifreann (interjection) · ro du-te dracului (interjection) · nl naar de klote gaan (to be ruined, become useless) · ur بھاڑ میں جاؤ! (interjection) · it vaffanculo (interjection) · cy ewch i uffern (interjection) · pl psuć się (to be ruined, become useless) · sv gå åt skogen (to be ruined, become useless) · bg върви по дяволите (interjection) · da gå ad helvede til (to be ruined, become useless) · fr partir en couille (to be ruined, become useless) · uk до бі́са (interjection) · ro du-te naiba (interjection) · rsk гет до беса (interjection) · ru пошли́ к чёрту (interjection) · ja 死ね (interjection) · it andare al diavolo (to be ruined, become useless) · sh иди до ђавола (interjection) · hu menj a pokolba (interjection) · it andare a remengo (interjection) · de fahrt zu Hölle (interjection) · sv gå åt helvete (to be ruined, become useless) · ro du-te dracu' (interjection) · ro se duce dracu' (to be ruined, become useless)