"It was hell." vs "It was like hell."

Question

"It was hell." vs "It was like hell."

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'It was hell' is a straightforward statement indicating a very difficult or unpleasant situation. 'It was like hell' implies a comparison, suggesting that the situation felt similar to being in hell.

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

This phrase is used to express that a situation was extremely challenging, unpleasant, or distressing.

Examples:

The traffic jam was hell.
The exam was hell.
The project deadline was hell.
Dealing with the customer complaints was hell.
The heatwave was hell.

Alternatives:

it was terrible.
it was awful.
it was unbearable.
it was a nightmare.
it was torture.

This phrase is used to convey that a situation felt similar to being in a very difficult, painful, or unpleasant place.

Examples:

The pain was like hell.
The waiting room was like hell.
The noise was like hell.
The loneliness was like hell.
The chaos was like hell.

Alternatives:

it was as bad as hell.
it was reminiscent of hell.
it was akin to hell.
it was hellish.
it was hell-like.

Answer 1

It was hell.

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe a very difficult or unpleasant situation.

Answer 2

It was like hell.

This phrase is correct and is used to compare a situation to the experience of being in hell.

"It was hell." vs "It was like hell."

It was hell.

It was like hell.

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