To hell and back Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use Represents surviving tough situations, not actual travel to hell. Starting that business was like going to hell and back. Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight Conveys strong feelings of stress or trauma from past events. After the loss of her job, she felt like she’d been to hell and back. Pro Tip 3/3Narrative Dramatization Adds drama to stories when describing difficult experiences. He recounted his journey to hell and back after escaping the wildfire.