give someone hell

verb3

1. •
   To castigate someone; to dress them down.

   • His boss really gave him hell when she found out that he'd been lying about filing the reports.
2. •
   To torment; To make miserable.

   • Yes, she desired to see Edward suffer. And, by God, she gave him hell . She gave him an unimaginable hell. — 1915
3. •
   To put up a fight against; to battle strongly and effectively.

   • A nickname of U.S. President Harry Truman was "Give-'em-Hell Harry" because he could really give them hell when he wanted to.