the hell you say
Appearance
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Phrase
[edit]- (idiomatic) I vehemently disagree with you; I will not obey you.
- 1901, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter 5, in The Marrow of Tradition:
- "The hell you say!" rejoined McBane. "I'll leave this car when I get good and ready, and that won't be till I've finished this cigar. See?"
- 1919, Zane Grey, chapter 15, in The Desert of Wheat:
- "The hell you say!" ejaculated the man, in amazement. "This Glidden is a German agent—perhaps a spy. He's no labor leader."
- 1983 June 13, Terence Smith, “Kissinger role in '68 race stirs conflicting views”, in New York Times, retrieved 10 October 2017:
- "The hell you say," Mr. Brzezinski replied indignantly, according to Mr. Allen, "Henry was working for our side."
- (idiomatic) What you are saying is unbelievable; it cannot be true.
- (idiomatic) (ironic) Ironically indicates lack of surprise.
- Head office brought in all those new policies without consulting anyone and now people are upset and nothing is working right? The hell you say!