hell on earth

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

hell on earth (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) A very unpleasant situation; torment, particularly when widespread.

• Pope Francis: Laudato si': if the limitations of the environment are compensated for in the interior of each person who feels held within a network of solidarity and belonging, ... any place can turn from being a hell on earth into the setting for a dignified life. (Paragraph 148).

Related terms

• hell on wheels
• heaven on earth

Translations

very unpleasant situation

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 人間地獄／人间地狱 (zh) (rénjiān dìyù)

• Finnish: maanpäällinen helvetti
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: helvete på jord n

• Swedish: helvete på jorden n