the hell you say

Meanings

phrase

idiomaticI vehemently disagree with you; I will not obey you.
"The hell you say," Mr. Brzezinski replied indignantly, according to Mr. Allen, "Henry was working for our side."
1983 June 13, Terence Smith, “Kissinger role in '68 race stirs conflicting views”, in New York Times, retrieved 10 Oct 2017
3 more examples
"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?"
1901, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter 5, in The Marrow of Tradition
"The hell you say!" ejaculated the man, in amazement. "This Glidden is a German agent—perhaps a spy. He's no labor leader."
1919, Zane Grey, chapter 15, in The Desert of Wheat
"The hell you say! Mister, I was appointed to the position by the city council! . . . I am a public servant, and you have no authority over me."
2013, Robert Vaughan, When Hell Came to Texas, →ISBN
idiomaticWhat you are saying is unbelievable; it cannot be true.
1. idiomaticironicIndicates 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!

Also see

Cite this entry

APA

the hell you say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20hell%20you%20say

MLA

“the hell you say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20hell%20you%20say. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the hell you say,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20hell%20you%20say.