to hell and back
idiom
informal
: through a very difficult or unpleasant situation that often lasts for a long time
She's been to hell and back since her daughter became ill.
Examples of to hell and back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those complications, at one point, take both boys literally to hell and back, resulting in mutual heartfelt and vulnerable confessions.
—
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 May 2024
By this point, Sweeney’s character — a chaste young American woman living at an Italian convent — has been to hell and back.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024
Bud had been to hell and back, from the bottom of Omaha to the top of the world, all while maintaining the slow-talkin’, good-natured mannerisms that could’ve been lost to the cruelties of his comeuppance.
—Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2023
Hellraiser, horror novelist Clive Barker’s journey to hell and back.
—Gregg Kilday, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2022
As journeys to hell and back go, this one was a pleasure.
—Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2022
Superstar entertainer Alyssa Edwards is generally accepted as an iconic gift sent down from Gay Heaven, but getting to a place of mutual adoration might've taken her RuPaul's Drag Race season 5 sisters on a trip to hell and back.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 30 July 2020
This trip to hell and back starts with Orpheus and Eurydice falling in love.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 2 Feb. 2023
Crosby was warm and smiling, having survived multiple journeys to hell and back and written several songs about it.
—Pamela Constable, Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 May 2024
By this point, Sweeney’s character — a chaste young American woman living at an Italian convent — has been to hell and back.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024
Bud had been to hell and back, from the bottom of Omaha to the top of the world, all while maintaining the slow-talkin’, good-natured mannerisms that could’ve been lost to the cruelties of his comeuppance.
—Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2023
Hellraiser, horror novelist Clive Barker’s journey to hell and back.
—Gregg Kilday, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2022
As journeys to hell and back go, this one was a pleasure.
—Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2022
Superstar entertainer Alyssa Edwards is generally accepted as an iconic gift sent down from Gay Heaven, but getting to a place of mutual adoration might've taken her RuPaul's Drag Race season 5 sisters on a trip to hell and back.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 30 July 2020
This trip to hell and back starts with Orpheus and Eurydice falling in love.
—Joey Morona, cleveland, 2 Feb. 2023
Crosby was warm and smiling, having survived multiple journeys to hell and back and written several songs about it.
—Pamela Constable, Washington Post, 21 Jan. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near to hell and back
Cite this Entry
“To hell and back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20hell%20and%20back. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share