# to hell and back

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/to-hell-and-back
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Greatly, intensely.

## Examples

- She has been to hell and back this year.
- After the long legal battle, he felt like he had been to hell and back.
- Having endured the grueling expedition through the mountains, the survivors felt as though they had been to hell and back.

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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.