break loose

Idioms  

1. Escape from restraint, as in The boat broke loose from its moorings, or He finally broke loose from the school of abstract expressionism. This expression also appears in all hell breaks loose, which indicates a state of fury or chaos, as in When Dad finds out you broke his watch, all hell will break loose, or When the children saw the dead pigeon in the hall, all hell broke loose. [Early 1400s]

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Example Sentences

I never have broken down to cry, but a part of that scar tissue breaks loose.

From Los Angeles Times

For the next five days, rescuing L.A.’s water lifeline became the DWP’s highest priority as all hell broke loose in Owens Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

“If any other prominent midsized banks go under and the deposits are not guaranteed, then all hell breaks loose.”

From Seattle Times

They frequently broke loose and Coast Guard officials concluded that a buoy tender could no longer safely navigate the bar to service them.

From Seattle Times

On Saturday, Truth Social users posted comments such as “all hell will break loose” in response to the possibility of Trump’s indictment.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• casual
• impromptu
• instinctive
• offhand
• simple
• unplanned
• voluntary