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
Ralphie cries to Tony, expressing a desire for redemption, but when a fire burns down the stable that kills Tony’s favorite horse Pie-O-My, all hell breaks loose.
—
Skyler Trepel, People.com, 10 June 2025
Then Rolf, the young lover of the von Trapp child who’s 16 going on 17, climbs through the Baroness’ window and all hell breaks loose.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
As soon as Mark completes the file, all hell breaks loose.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
At the start of the movie, George invites his agency suspects to dinner, and all hell breaks loose.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
From here all hell breaks loose as a klaxon suddenly blares, red emergency lights flash, and all manner of drama kicks off.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2025
How Hormones Disrupt Sleep Once hormones hit women, all hell breaks loose for women’s sleep.
—Judy Stone, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Also, Mon Mothma seems to throw a lavish party at some point (before all hell breaks loose).
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 24 Feb. 2025
And will Juliette head back over the hill before all hell breaks loose in Silo 18?
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025
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Skyler Trepel, People.com, 10 June 2025
Then Rolf, the young lover of the von Trapp child who’s 16 going on 17, climbs through the Baroness’ window and all hell breaks loose.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025
As soon as Mark completes the file, all hell breaks loose.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025
At the start of the movie, George invites his agency suspects to dinner, and all hell breaks loose.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
From here all hell breaks loose as a klaxon suddenly blares, red emergency lights flash, and all manner of drama kicks off.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 Mar. 2025
How Hormones Disrupt Sleep Once hormones hit women, all hell breaks loose for women’s sleep.
—Judy Stone, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Also, Mon Mothma seems to throw a lavish party at some point (before all hell breaks loose).
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 24 Feb. 2025
And will Juliette head back over the hill before all hell breaks loose in Silo 18?
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“All hell breaks loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20hell%20breaks%20loose. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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