hell's bells

== English == === Etymology === From hell +‎ -’s +‎ bells, possibly an elaboration of hell (used to express anger, discontent, or unhappiness) with bells chosen to rhyme with hell’s. The noun sense (Datura stramonium) may allude to the often spiny seed capsules of the poisonous plant which somewhat resemble bells when they mature and split open; compare devil's cucumber, devil's snare, devil's trumpet, and devil's weed which are other common names for the plant. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˌhɛlz ˈbɛlz/ === Interjection === hell's bells (mildly vulgar) An expression of frustration, outrage, or surprise. [from mid 19th c.] (expression of frustration): Synonyms: see Thesaurus:dammit (expression of surprise): Synonyms: hell's teeth; see also Thesaurus:wow ==== Translations ==== === Noun === hell's bells pl (plural only) Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium). ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === Hell's Bells (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Datura stramonium on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Category:Datura stramonium on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons Datura stramonium on Wikispecies.Wikispecies