play merry hell with
Synonym of play the devil with.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The heavy rain played merry hell with our outdoor plans.”
“The sudden power outage played merry hell with the restaurant's kitchen, ruining all the dinner orders.”
“The unexpected economic crisis played merry hell with the company's long-term investments, forcing the board to reconsider their entire strategy.”
- 01
all hell breaks loose
The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.
- 02
all over hell's half acre
All over the place; everywhere.
- 03
catch hell
To be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
- 04
child's play
Something particularly easy or simple.
- 05
cold day in Hell
The time of occurrence of an event that will never happen.
- 06
come hell or high water
Regardless of the hardships; no matter what difficulties may arise.
- 07
forty minutes of hell
The NCAA strategy of playing a suffocating full-court press and aggressive offense for the entirety of a game.
- 08
fucking hell
An exclamation of great surprise.
Last updated August 10, 2026