all to hell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all to hell" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express frustration or to indicate that something has gone wrong or failed completely. Example: "After the argument, everything just went all to hell, and we couldn't salvage our friendship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

It didn't mean you mightn't meet somebody new and let the script go all to hell.

The New Yorker

"But when his world is threatened," he said, "that goes all to hell".

The New York Times

GOD DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!! LH Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway phenomenon Hamilton opens at London's Victoria Palace Theatre, SW1, in November.

The Guardian

"They went all to hell during the Ahmadinejad presidency, and right after Rouhani won the presidency, a few different groups took matters into their own hands and started trying to revive the ISAs".

The Guardian

We all know people who make storyboards, and they go shoot the movie, and their storyboard goes all to hell.

Huffington Post

As fired up as a former president of the Harvard Law Review can get, Obama pulled out some of the off-the-cuff derision he displayed before the final meetings with the Speaker of the House went all to hell in the debt ceiling talks, going as far as turning his angst on the press and even the malaise of the country to the plight his presidency finds itself in.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

A lot. Just look at this sexy, watermarked-all-to-hell beast.

TechCrunch

And past winner Peter Dinklage has a fantastic Emmy episode, Tyrion's trial, in which he delivers the kind of stentorian, damn-you-all-to-hell speech that award voters love.

Los Angeles Times

And past winner Peter Dinklage has a fantastic Emmy episode, Tyrion's trial, in which he delivers the kind of stentorian, damn-you-all-to-hell speech that awards voters love.

Los Angeles Times

That's all right?" Once the real debate started, it all went to hell.

The New Yorker

And then it all went to hell.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase, consider the audience and context, as it can be considered vulgar.

Common error

Avoid using "all to hell" in formal or professional contexts where a more neutral or polite expression is required. Choose a less emphatic alternative like "gone awry" or "fallen apart" for professional emails or academic papers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all to hell" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the extent or manner of an action. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its usage to emphasize the degree to which something has deteriorated or failed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "all to hell" is an adverbial phrase used to express that a situation is deteriorating or has completely failed, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, it is most appropriate for informal contexts and carries a strong negative connotation. When writing, consider the register of your audience and context to ensure that the phrase's intensity aligns with your intended message. Alternatives such as "fallen apart" or "gone wrong" may be more suitable for formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In shambles

Emphasizes a state of disorder and disarray.

Fallen apart

Focuses on the disintegration or collapse of something.

Hit the fan

Implies a sudden and dramatic onset of trouble or chaos.

Gone to pot

More informal and implies a gradual decline or deterioration.

Gone to the dogs

Similar to "gone to pot", suggesting a decline in quality or standards.

Gone wrong

A more general term indicating that something has not proceeded as planned.

Gone kaput

Informal, indicating that something is broken or no longer functioning.

In a state of collapse

More formal, emphasizing a severe breakdown or failure.

Come to naught

Suggests that efforts or plans have been unsuccessful and yielded no results.

Gone belly up

Typically used in a business context, indicating failure or bankruptcy.

FAQs

How can I use "all to hell" in a sentence?

You can use "all to hell" to emphasize a situation that has completely deteriorated or gone wrong, for example, "After the initial success, the project went "all to hell" due to mismanagement".

What are some alternatives to saying "all to hell"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "gone wrong", "fallen apart", or "in shambles" to express a similar idea without using potentially offensive language.

Is "all to hell" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "all to hell" is generally considered informal and may be inappropriate for formal writing. Use more neutral phrases like "gone awry" or "deteriorated significantly" instead.

What does "all to hell" emphasize in a sentence?

"All to hell" emphasizes the totality and severity of a failure or decline. It suggests that something has not only gone wrong but has done so completely and perhaps catastrophically.