Green’s Dictionary of Slang

what the hell phr.

[what the hell...? phr. (1)]

1. an intensified form of what or whatever.

[UK]Liverpool Mercury 21 July 8/3: What the h—l would become of the Church if these French Atheists should get the upper hand? if our religion would not go to pot, I’ll be d—d.
[US]E. Dahlberg Bottom Dogs 891: Shrimp was always wondering what the hell fun a fella could have anyhow carrying on with himself like that.
[UK]V. Davis Gentlemen of the Broad Arrows 114: You can do what the hell you like.
[UK]P. Cheyney Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 40: I wonder what the hell is she goin’ to pull now?
[UK]R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 38: I can’t remember what the hell I was on about.
D. Evans One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show 38: You can do what the hell you want.
[US]J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 149: I didn’t know what the hell this geek wanted.
[UK]Indep. on Sun. Rev. 20 June 21: I don’t know what the hell language you are speaking, buddy.
posting 16 Oct. at Men’s Health (UK) 🌐 Eat what the hell you want, you dont need a six pack in the army.

2. in attrib. use of sense 1.

[US]Codella and Bennett Alphaville (2011) 112: Those winging-it, what-the-hell situations.