break loose
idiom
1
: to suddenly become loose : to suddenly stop being attached to something
One of the shutters broke loose during the storm.
2
: to get away from someone or something by using force or effort
The prisoner broke loose and ran away.
—often + fromThe prisoner broke loose from the guards.
She wants to break loose from the constraints of her middle-class life.
Examples of break loose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The location would be kept a secret until usually the morning of the event and then all heck would break loose (and was dutifully cleaned up by the participants).
—
Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
Once in a while, a steer will break loose, causing the presenters to tense up.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Feb. 2025
The credit for that deal goes to Trump, who had threatened all hell would break loose if the hostages weren’t released by Inauguration Day.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
While the 49ers wideout is catching heat for his meager stats through three games (11 receptions, 119 yards, no touchdowns), Shanahan agrees with metrics that suggest Aiyuk has been winning routes at his normal rate and could break loose at any time.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break loose 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
Once in a while, a steer will break loose, causing the presenters to tense up.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Feb. 2025
The credit for that deal goes to Trump, who had threatened all hell would break loose if the hostages weren’t released by Inauguration Day.
—Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
While the 49ers wideout is catching heat for his meager stats through three games (11 receptions, 119 yards, no touchdowns), Shanahan agrees with metrics that suggest Aiyuk has been winning routes at his normal rate and could break loose at any time.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for break loose
Dictionary Entries Near break loose
Cite this Entry
“Break loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20loose. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share