all hell breaks loose

English

Phrase

all hell breaks loose

1. (idiomatic) The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:

     Came not all hell broke loose?

   • 1992 August 19, “Beckel, Barnes and Rollins Discuss the Republican Convention”, CBS_Morning:

     I think it's kind of fun because, had Hillary Clinton spoken at the Democratic Convention, all hell would have broken loose.

Usage notes

• Both as a sentence and a clause this term allows all normal conjugation of the verb.

Translations