Hell's bells

[mbw2]

What does 'hell's bells' mean? Thank you.

[sgs]

Like 'hell's teeth', hell's bells is an exclamation of frustration, surprise or anger. It doesn't really mean anything as such, though it alliterates nicely and is not considered blasphemous or crude, so it's a phrase suitable for most occasions.

[incitatus]

Goes back a fair way too....and appears in at least on First Wolrd War soldiers' song...
"The bells of Hell go din-a-ling-a-ling....."