hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

English

Alternative forms

• hell has no fury like a woman scorned

Etymology

First written as "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd." in the 1697 play The Mourning Bride (Act III Scene 2) by William Congreve. The "hath" is a hypercorrection based on false chronological assumption and perception that the saying is ancient, dating to at least the grammar of Early Modern English (which the time of writing would be at the end of); this is also reinforced by the phrase often being falsely attributed to Shakespeare or the King James Bible.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /hɛl hæθ nəʊ ˈfjʊəɹi laɪk ə ˈwʊmən skɔːnd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /hɛl hæθ noʊ ˈfjʊɹi laɪk ə ˈwʊmən skɔɹnd/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Proverb

hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

1. A woman will make someone suffer if they hurt her.

Translations

a woman will make one suffer if hurt

• French: L’enfer n’a pas de fureur comme une femme méprisée
• German: Selbst die Hölle hat nicht den Zorn einer geschmähten Frau.
• Hebrew: אין זעם כזעמה של אישה דחויה, אש התופת לא תשווה לזעמה של אישה דחויה, אין בתופת זעם כמו זה של אישה מבוזה