# hell or high water

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hell-or-high-water
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Highly adverse circumstances; acts of God.

## Examples

- I will finish this project, come hell or high water.
- She promised to attend her sister's wedding, hell or high water, despite the massive storm canceling all flights.
- Determined to preserve the family estate, he vowed to defend the property against the encroaching developers, hell or high water.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.