Heck Exclamation - Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation And Usage Notes

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Definition of heck exclamation from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

heck exclamation, noun  /hek/  /hek/(informal)Idioms jump to other results

1. used to show that you are slightly annoyed or surprised; used to emphasize something
   • Oh heck, I'm going to be late!
   • Heck! You’re here early!
   • a heck of a something We had to wait a heck of a long time!
   • It was a heck of a lot of fun.
   • The world has a heck of a lot of people needing to be fed.
   • Who the heck are you?
   Word Originlate 19th cent. (originally northern English dialect): euphemistic alteration of hell.

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Idioms for the heck of it

1. (informal) just for pleasure rather than for a reason

what the heck!

1. (informal) used to say that you are going to do something that you know you should not do
   • It means I'll be late for work but what the heck!

See heck in the Oxford Advanced American DictionaryCheck pronunciation: heck

Nearby words

• Hebrew adjective
• the Hebrides
• heck exclamation, noun
• heckle verb
• heckler noun

bachelor noun From the Topic Life stages C2 Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day