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

When all hell breaks loose during her quasi-scientific seance, she recognizes that the problem is beyond her capacities and that the house spells their doom.

From Los Angeles Times

A piece of insulating foam on Columbia's fuel tank broke loose during launch, damaging the heat shield with devastating results.

From BBC

As spring approaches, the sun warms the slopes and large ice blocks -- sometimes a meter long -- break loose.

From Science Daily

On the third play from scrimmage, he broke loose on a run up the middle and picked up 41 yards.

From Los Angeles Times

Bonzi won the first two sets and was up 5-4 and serving for match point in the third ... when all hell broke loose.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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