hell of a

phrase

informal + somewhat impolite

1

—used to make a statement more forceful

It was one hell of a good fight.

He is one hell of a nice guy.

2

: very good

She's a hell of a player.

3

: very bad or difficult

We've been having a hell of a time trying to finish on schedule.

This is a hell of a mess we're in.

Examples of hell of a in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wayne became the third leg of the stool for people like Dominick Dunne, who had a knack for earning people’s confidence and could spin a hell of a yarn. — Mike Hogan, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026

Anton Chigurh, No Country for Old Men An unstoppable force, an immovable object, and one hell of a bad haircut. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026

The most impressive trick Paranormal Activity pulls off is making an entire theater — devotees and newcomers alike — afraid to look away, and giving them one hell of a good time while doing it. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Now, here are two guys who know how to build, if not quite an actual Underground Railroad, one hell of a funicular. — Chris Willman, Variety, 18 July 2026

Rhymes for hell of a

• brava