out of control

Idioms  

1. Also, out of hand. No longer under management, direction, or regulation; unmanageable or unruly. For example, Housing costs are out of control, or The children were getting out of hand again. The first term uses control in the sense of “restraint,” a usage dating from the late 1500s; the variant uses hand in the sense of “power” or “authority,” and dates from the late 1800s.

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Example Sentences

It can feel as if you are spinning out of control in a Tilt-A-Whirl ride at an amusement park.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

The suspect spun out of control and crashed into a wall in Jurupa Valley.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

"This is the staggering reality of what can happen when even well-meaning owners become overwhelmed - over-breeding can take over, and conditions can spiral out of control."

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Humira is just one example, but it’s a fascinating case study for understanding how healthcare costs have gotten so horribly out of control and what’s needed to fix it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

I had one chance before this all got totally out of control.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda