break loose

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

But when he snapped the ball, three Badger blitzers broke loose.

From Los Angeles Times

The junior from JSerra broke loose for touchdown runs of 61 and 34 yards in the first half at Southwestern College.

From Los Angeles Times

"All hell was breaking loose," said Ms Kamarck, who was 18 at the time.

From BBC

But after stormy weather in late May, four landing craft involved in the operation broke loose and were washed ashore.

From BBC

"Once this ended, a convoy of tanks drove into our town. All hell broke loose."

From BBC

Related Words

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