1610. Jonson, Alchemist, v., 2. He must not break his fast In Heaven or Hell.
Hell broke loose, subs. phr. (common).—Extreme disorder; anarchy.
1632. Hausted, Rivall Friends, v., 10. Fye, fye, hell is broke loose upon me.
1672. Marvell, Rehearsal (Grosart), iii, 212. War broke out, and then to be sure hell’s broke loose.
1703. Farquhar, Inconstant, iv., 4. Hell broke loose upon me, and all the furies fluttered about my ears. [[300]]
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., i., 96. Tho’ hell’s broke loose, and the Devils roar abroad.
Hell of a (lark, goer, row, and so forth), adj. phr. (common).—Very much of a ——; a popular intensitive.
All to hell (or gone to hell), adj. phr. (colloquial).—Utterly ruined.
To hope (or wish) to hell, verb. phr. (common).—To desire intensely.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 229. I hope to h—— the horse will break his neck and his rider’s too.