all hell breaks loose
idiom
informal
—used to describe what happens when violent, destructive, and confused activity suddenly begins
I heard people shouting at each other, and suddenly all hell broke loose.
Examples of all hell breaks loose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Until a series of tragedies turn the family’s life upside down and all hell breaks loose—seemingly literally.
—
Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024
Dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge Soon, all hell breaks loose due to your sole enemy: The Spotlight, a more cartoonish cross between Pyramid Head and the Boys of Silence from BioShock Infinite, who stalks you in classrooms and hallways.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Before the jury can finish reading his sentence, though, all hell breaks loose: a car bomb destroys much of the courthouse wall, killing and injuring many inside.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Her disapproving future mother-in-law has spared no expense in planning what promises to be the premiere wedding of the season but all hell breaks loose when a body turns up on the beach and everyone is suddenly a suspect.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
The tarot card reading is reluctantly led by Harriet Slater’s Haley, who, like Halberg, is a Minnesota native, and shortly after the friend group returns to their Boston-area university, all hell breaks loose as each individual reading comes true in lethal fashion.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024
When Tyrone the demonic socket puppet comes alive on Jason’s hand, all hell breaks loose.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, the Book of the Dead awaits, and all hell breaks loose when an archeologist recites passages from the text.
—Steven Thrash, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023
Naturally, all hell breaks loose as the creatures crash to Earth and promptly begin devouring any readily available humans.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2024
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Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024
Dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge Soon, all hell breaks loose due to your sole enemy: The Spotlight, a more cartoonish cross between Pyramid Head and the Boys of Silence from BioShock Infinite, who stalks you in classrooms and hallways.
—Matt Gardner, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Before the jury can finish reading his sentence, though, all hell breaks loose: a car bomb destroys much of the courthouse wall, killing and injuring many inside.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Her disapproving future mother-in-law has spared no expense in planning what promises to be the premiere wedding of the season but all hell breaks loose when a body turns up on the beach and everyone is suddenly a suspect.
—Dana Feldman, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
The tarot card reading is reluctantly led by Harriet Slater’s Haley, who, like Halberg, is a Minnesota native, and shortly after the friend group returns to their Boston-area university, all hell breaks loose as each individual reading comes true in lethal fashion.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024
When Tyrone the demonic socket puppet comes alive on Jason’s hand, all hell breaks loose.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, the Book of the Dead awaits, and all hell breaks loose when an archeologist recites passages from the text.
—Steven Thrash, EW.com, 19 Oct. 2023
Naturally, all hell breaks loose as the creatures crash to Earth and promptly begin devouring any readily available humans.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near all hell breaks loose
Cite this Entry
“All hell breaks loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20hell%20breaks%20loose. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
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