raise hell用法解析

raise hell可追溯至19世纪末的美国西部荒野时期，最初用来形容牛仔肆意闹事、制造骚乱的行为，字面意为“唤起地狱般的混乱”，对应的名词形式hell-raiser于1914年出现，指爱闹事的人。该短语依托“hell”象征混乱、愤怒的意象。现核心含义为：大吵大闹、强烈抗议、发怒抗议、制造骚乱、大发雷霆，可细分为两层语义：

一是因不满、愤怒而激烈抱怨、抗议，要求解决问题；

二是肆意放纵、制造麻烦、扰乱秩序；

其实和汉语里“闹翻了天”何其之像？

多用于非正式口语，语气偏强烈，带有负面情绪色彩，常搭配about/with使用，即raise hell about sth（为某事大闹）、raise hell with sb（对某人发火）。

如：

She will raise hell with her boyfriend if he forgets their date again.

如果男友再忘记约会，她会跟他大吵大闹。

He raised hell about his wife's sudden decision to cancel their wedding.

他对妻子取消婚礼的突然决定大发雷霆。

The couple raised hell with each other over the misunderstanding and almost broke up.

这对情侣因误会互相大吵大闹，差点分手。

He will raise hell with his friend if the secret is let out.

如果秘密被泄露，他会对朋友大发雷霆。

The customers were angry and began to raise hell about the poor service in the restaurant.

顾客很愤怒，开始对旅店的劣质服务强烈抗议。

Parents will raise hell about the school's unfair punishment on their children.

家长们会就学校对孩子的不公平处罚强烈抗议。

The opposition party raised hell over the new policy passed by the government.

反对党就政府通过的新政策发起激烈抗议。

Workers raised hell about the delayed salary and demanded immediate payment.

工人们因薪资拖欠大吵大闹，要求立刻发放工资。

The representative raised hell with the other side about the unfair treaty.

该代表就不公平条约对对方提出强烈抗议。

Soldiers raised hell about the harsh living conditions in the camp.

士兵们对军营恶劣的生活条件强烈不满、大肆抱怨。

If you hide the truth from me again, I will raise hell with you.

如果你再对我隐瞒真相，我就跟你大吵大闹。《绝望主妇》

The customers will raise hell if we serve them cold coffee again.

如果我们再给顾客上冷咖啡，他们会大吵大闹的。《破产姐妹》

The gangster raised hell about the lost goods and threatened to take revenge.

这名黑帮分子因货物丢失大发雷霆，扬言要报复。《教父》