helter-skelter

American  

[hel-ter-skel-ter] / ˈhɛl tərˈskɛl tər /

adverb

1. in headlong and disorderly haste.

   The children ran helter-skelter all over the house.

2. in a haphazard manner; without regard for order.

   Clothes were scattered helter-skelter about the room.

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adjective

1. carelessly hurried; confused.

   They ran in a mad, helter-skelter fashion for the exits.

2. disorderly; haphazard.

   Books and papers were scattered on the desk in a helter-skelter manner.

noun

1. tumultuous disorder; confusion.

helter-skelter British  

/ ˈhɛltəˈskɛltə /

adjective

1. haphazard or carelessly hurried

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adverb

1. in a helter-skelter manner

noun

1. a high spiral slide, as at a fairground

2. disorder or haste

Etymology

Origin of helter-skelter

First recorded in 1585–95; rhyming compound, perhaps based on unattested skelt, Middle English skelten “to hasten”; further origin unknown); reduplication with initial h parallel to hubble-bubble, higgledy-piggledy, etc.

Example Sentences

“So just having the different levels of personality, demeanor, I think I’ll bring a little bit more of just an even-keeledness to our team when things get helter-skelter.”

From Los Angeles Times

The new model appears to place common prosperity, as President Xi Jinping has put it, ahead of helter-skelter growth, investors say.

From Reuters

“Nothing in Tate is quick,” she said in a telephone interview, “but compared to museums in France and Spain, or Italy, it’s moving at an absolute helter-skelter pace.”

From New York Times

“Everyone is running helter-skelter, doing whatever they can to save their loved ones.”

From Seattle Times

This was not the disciplined display typical of many of City's victories this season but their incisive attacking, aided by some helter-skelter Saints defending, meant they still ended up convincing winners.

From BBC

Related Words

• chaotic
• haphazard
• hurried