hell-hound

A hell-hound guards the entrance to the dark cave.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mythical canine guardian: "hell-hound" refers to a supernatural dog, often depicted as a fierce and monstrous creature that guards the underworld or serves as an omen of death in folklore and mythology.
   • A malicious or cruel person: By extension, "hell-hound" is used figuratively to describe a person who is exceptionally wicked, vicious, or relentless in their behaviour.

Usage Examples

• Mythological sense:
  • In Greek mythology, Cerberus is the three-headed hell-hound that guards the gates of Hades. (A mythical dog that prevents the dead from escaping.)
• Figurative sense:
  • The dictator was called a hell-hound for his brutal suppression of dissent. (A cruel and ruthless person.)

Advanced Usage

• "to unleash a hell-hound": to release something or someone extremely dangerous or destructive.

  • The general unleashed a hell-hound of a weapon on the enemy forces. (He deployed a devastatingly effective weapon.)

• "like a hell-hound on a scent": pursuing something with relentless determination.

  • The journalist followed the story like a hell-hound on a scent, refusing to give up. (He pursued the truth with great persistence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hellhound (n): an alternative spelling, used interchangeably.

  • The legend tells of a black hellhound that roams the moors at night. (A supernatural dog in local folklore.)

• Hound (n): a type of dog bred for hunting; also used metaphorically for a persistent person.

  • The detective was a relentless hound for justice. (A metaphor for someone who pursues a goal doggedly.)

Synonyms

• Cerberus: the specific three-headed hell-hound of Greek mythology.
• Fiend: a demon or an extremely wicked person.
• Monster: a mythical creature or a person of cruel behaviour.

Phrasal Verbs

• (None directly associated with "hell-hound" as a noun; however, the verb "hound" is related.)
  • Hound out: to pursue or drive someone away persistently.

    • The mob hounded the corrupt official out of town. (They chased him away with relentless pressure.)

Related Idioms

• "Hell-hound of a problem": an extremely difficult or troublesome situation.

  • Fixing the old engine turned into a hell-hound of a problem. (A very challenging and frustrating task.)

• "To be a hell-hound on the trail": to be a very determined and effective pursuer.

  • The debt collector was a hell-hound on the trail of anyone who owed money. (He was relentless in his pursuit.)