raise hell Definition

hell
noun

1. The place or state of infinite punishment for the wicked after death.

Thesaurus: abyss, Hades, inferno, nether world, Tophet, pandemonium, underworld, Gehenna, Styx, Acheron.
2. The abode of the dead and evil spirits.
3. Any place or state which causes extensive pain, misery and discomfort.

Thesaurus: torment, affliction, agony, anguish, misery, ordeal, suffering, torture, trial.

exclamation

colloq:
1. Expressing annoyance or exasperation.
2. An expression of strong disagreement or refusal

Example: The hell I will!
Form: the hell

Idiom: a hell of a ... (one hell of a ..., helluva, hellova ...)

colloq
A very great or significant ....
Example: one hell of a row

Idiom: all hell breaks loose (all hell is let loose)

There is chaos and uproar.

Idiom: as hell

Absolutely; extremely.
Example: He's as mad as hell

Idiom: beat the hell out of someone (knock the hell out of someone)

colloq
To beat them severely and violently.

Idiom: come hell or high water

colloq
No matter what problems or difficulties may arise.

Idiom: for the hell of it

colloq
For the fun or sake of it.
Thesaurus: playfully, whimsically, for the fun of it.

Idiom: from hell

Considered to be the most awful ever example of its kind.
Example: boyfriend from hell
Example: anorak from hell

Idiom: from hell

Considered to be the most awful ever example of its kind.
Example: boyfriend from hell
Example: anorak from hell

Idiom: give someone hell

To punish or rebuke them severely.

To make things extremely difficult for them.

Idiom: hell for leather

colloq
At an extremely fast pace.
Example: drove hell for leather to the airport

Idiom: hell to pay

Serious trouble or consequences.

Idiom: like hell

Very much; very hard or fast
Example: Like hell
Example: ran like hell

Idiom: not to have a cat in hell's chance

See under cat.

Idiom: not to have a hope in hell

To have absolutely no chance or hope at all.

Idiom: play hell with

See under play.

Idiom: raise hell

See under raise.

Idiom: to hell with someone or something

An expression of angry disagreement with them or it.

An intention to ignore or reject them or it.

Idiom: what the hell

What does it matter?; who cares?

An expression of surprise and amazement
Example: what the hell are you doing?

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon hel.

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raise
verb raised, raising

1. To move or lift to a higher position or level.

Thesaurus: lift, heighten, upraise, hoist, elevate, boost, mount, jack up.
2. To put in an upright or standing position.
3. To build or erect.

Thesaurus: build, construct, erect, rear, fabricate, fashion.
4. To increase the value, amount or strength of something.

Example: raise prices
Example: raise one's voice
5. To put forward for consideration or discussion.

Example: raise an objection
6. To gather together or assemble.

Example: raise an army
7. To collect together or obtain (funds, money, etc).

Example: raise money for charity
Thesaurus: collect, gather, procure, accumulate, appropriate, borrow.
8. To stir up or incite.

Example: raise a protest
9. To bring into being; to provoke.

Example: raise a laugh
Example: raise the alarm
10. To promote to a higher rank.
11. To awaken or arouse from sleep or death.
12. To grow (vegetables, a crop, etc).
13. To bring up or rear (a child, children).

Example: raise a family, or young
Thesaurus: nurture, rear, nurse, support, suckle, nourish, foster, cultivate, breed, parent, propagate.
14. To bring to an end or remove.

Example: raise the siege
15. To cause (bread or dough) to rise with yeast.
16. To establish radio contact with.
17. math.
To increase (a quantity) to a given power (see power noun 12).
Example: 3 raised to the power of 4 is 81
18. cards.
To bet more than another player.
19. naut.
To cause (land) to come into sight by approaching.
20. To produce a nap on (cloth) by brushing.
21. To cause (a lump, blister, etc) to form or swell.

noun

1. An act of raising or lifting. Brit equivalent rise.
(especially N Amer)
2. colloq
An increase in salary.

Derivative: raisable
adj

Derivative: raiser
noun

Derivative: raising
noun

Idiom: raise a hand to someone or something

To hit or generally treat them or it badly.

Idiom: raise an eyebrow (raise one's eyebrows)

To look surprised (at).

Idiom: raise Cain (raise the roof)

To make a lot of noise.

To be extremely angry.

Idiom: raise its ugly head

Said of a difficult situation, problem, etc: to occur or appear.

Idiom: raise hell (raise the devil)

colloq
To make a lot of trouble.

Idiom: raise money on something

To get money for something by pawning or selling it, especially privately.

Idiom: raise one's glass

To drink a toast.

Idiom: raise one's hat

To take off one's hat in greeting.

Idiom: raise the wind

slang
To get together the necessary money by any means.

Idiom: raise someone's hopes

To give them reason to be hopeful.

Idiom: raise someone's spirits

To make them more cheerful or optimistic.

Etymology: 12c: from Norse reisa.

Info:

There is often a spelling confusion between raise and raze.