handbasket

[ hand-bas-kit, -bah-skit ]

noun

1. a small basket with a handle for carrying by hand.

Word History and Origins

Origin of handbasket¹

First recorded in 1485–95; hand + basket

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go to hell in a handbasket, to degenerate quickly and decisively:

   The economy has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Example Sentences

You think the country has gone to “hell in a handbasket” under the current administration and party leadership.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, it can be argued the country has gone to “hell in a handbasket.”

From The Daily Beast

This is not a lament that things have gone to hell in a handbasket since some mythical golden era.

From The Daily Beast

He told me the country was going to Rome in a handbasket, or something like that.

From Project Gutenberg

"Rome was always going to Hell in a handbasket, and finally it—" He paused.

From Project Gutenberg

That was all very well and good, but just what was the handbasket made of?

From Project Gutenberg

The world, he told himself, was going to hell in a handbasket.

From Project Gutenberg