ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hell on wheels

idiom
Meaning

A situation that is tough, aggressive, lawless, and wild.


Origin

disputed origin

First used to refer to the towns at the end of the Union Pacific Railroad when under construction.

Examples
SIMPLE

That toddler is hell on wheels when he gets tired.

CONTEXTUAL

The new manager is hell on wheels, demanding constant updates and firing anyone who makes a mistake.

COMPLEX

The frontier town was known as hell on wheels, a lawless place where outlaws and gold seekers clashed nightly in the dusty streets.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all hell breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  2. 02

    catch hell

    To be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.

  3. 03

    cold day in Hell

    The time of occurrence of an event that will never happen.

  4. 04

    come hell or high water

    Regardless of the hardships; no matter what difficulties may arise.

  5. 05

    forty minutes of hell

    The NCAA strategy of playing a suffocating full-court press and aggressive offense for the entirety of a game.

  6. 06

    fucking hell

    An exclamation of great surprise.

  7. 07

    give someone hell

    To castigate someone; to dress them down.

  8. 08

    grease the wheels

    To create conditions likely to produce or hasten favorable future developments.

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