Etymology The third sense is first attested in Shakespeare. The second sense is a variation of older go to the devil. The literal sense is attested since Old English with various verbs for "to go".
1
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, to, hell.
2
To go out the window; become ruined; become useless.
Well, that plan has gone to hell.
In my opinion, they want us to lose. If we lose Georgia, we lose the whole thing and our country goes to hell.2024 August 4, George Chidi, quoting Donald Trump, “Name-calling and hyperbole: Trump continues fear-mongering fest at Georgia rally”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
1 more example
I'm really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell. In America, we've taken bold action to swiftly shut down uncontrolled migration. Once we started detaining and deporting everyone who crossed the border and removing illegal aliens from the United States, they simply stopped coming.2025 September 23, Donald Trump, speech at United Nations:
3
Derogatory, Offensive An expression of anger and contempt directed at someone, especially after that individual has committed a serious crime or transgression.
Why did Nancy do that to Jake? She can go to hell.
You want me to voluntarily work the weekend without pay? Go to hell!
4 more examples
Let Fortune goe to hell for it, not I.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 173, line 21:
But when he had urged his request four or five times, and we thought on what evil the country folk say that they have at times suffered from the Vettar, when they have chanced to swear at them, or with uncivil words bid them go to hell, I took the resolution to read some prayers over my wife, and to bless her, and bid her in God's name go with him.1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 123:
I shook my head and held up my rifle. "You'll have to go aloft to do it, and the first man that gets into the shrouds will get this." "Then she can go to hell for all we care," he said, with emphatic conclusiveness.1914, Jack London, The Mutiny of the Elsinore, Chapter XLVI:
"Oh, go to hell!" said Silas, and kicked open his own unlatched door.1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
a type of slacks that have garish colors or patterns
Daly, Hadid, and Shayk, who have probably never all been mentioned in the same sentence before, are all working in the proud tradition of, as preppies would say, "go-to-hell pants."2021, Véronique Hyland, “The Impolite Return of "Go-To-Hell Pants"”, in Elle: