hell-bent
Recklessly determined to do or achieve (something). [with on ‘something’]
Adjective
- Recklessly determined to do or achieve (something). [with on ‘something’]
- He was hell-bent on coming first, no matter what.
- If somebody had asked me why I was so hell-bent on grabbing a piece of Penny Hardwick's chest, I wouldn't have known what to say. And if somebody were to ask Penny why she was so hell-bent on stopping me, I'll bet she'd...
- The PP has seized on the possibility of an amnesty to rally support and to portray the PSOE leader as craven, dependent on Catalan separatists and hellbent on remaining in office. - 2023 September 26, Sam Jones, “Spain...
Synonyms: dead set
Origin
From hell (“in a manner that uses all of the strength, speed, or effort that a person can summon”) + bent (“determined, insistent”), that is, in the sense “determined like hell”.
Forms
Derived
Adverb
- In a recklessly determined manner; determinedly, wholeheartedly.