loose (redirected from hanging loose)

all hell breaks loose (informal)

if all hell breaks loose, a situation suddenly becomes noisy and violent, usually with a lot of people arguing or fighting. This big guy walked up to the bar and hit Freddie and suddenly all hell broke loose.

See also: all, break, hell

be at a loose end (British & Australian, American)

to have nothing to do. If you find yourself at a loose end over the weekend, you could always clean out the garden shed. Sarah was at loose ends in a strange city when she first met Bob.

See also: end

be on the loose

if a dangerous person or animal is on the loose, they have escaped from prison or a cage and are free. A killer who preys on attractive women is feared to be on the loose in Moscow.

cut loose

1. if a person or organization cuts loose, they separate themselves from another person or organization. She cut loose from her sponsors and decided to try to fund herself instead. (usually + from)

(mainly American)

2. to behave in a way that is free and relaxed, especially when you are enjoying yourself. After a few glasses of wine everyone just cut loose and started dancing.

See also: cut

cut loose someone/something

to get rid of someone or something that you control or own. We're cutting loose only those teachers whose work is below standard.

See also: cut

Hang loose! (American, old-fashioned)

something that you say in order to tell someone to stay calm and relaxed. Hang loose, guys! The rest of us will be there to back you up.

See also: hang

have a screw loose (informal)

to be crazy. I think that woman has a screw loose - she goes out in her slippers.

See also: screw

a loose cannon

a person who cannot be completely trusted because their behaviour is sometimes strange or violent. He's seen as a loose cannon by other team members. If anyone's going to get into a fight, it'll be Pete.

See also: cannon

loose ends

the last few details that need to be finished or explained in order for something to be complete. The job's nearly done. I'm just tying up one or two loose ends at the moment.

See also: end

play fast and loose with something/someone

to treat something or someone without enough care. Like many film-makers, he plays fast and loose with the facts to tell his own version of the story.

See also: fast, play

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at loose ends

not knowing what to do esp. because of some upsetting change. He was at loose ends when their long-term relationship broke up.

Etymology: based on the idea of a string or rope with ends that are not neatly tied together

See also: end

break loose

to escape. People are worried that they would be unsafe if that tiger ever broke loose.

See also: break

cut someone/something loose

to get rid of or release someone or something. He made it in baseball to the major leagues, but the Sox cut him loose because he could not hit. Many workers will be cut loose in the upcoming staff reductions.

See also: cut

cut loose

to behave or express yourself in a free or forceful way. As we crossed the lobby, Charlie cut loose with a yell that made everyone stop and stare at us.

See also: cut

(all) hell break loose

a hell of a someone/something

See also: break, hell

(all) hell breaks loose

great confusion and excitement suddenly develops. All hell broke loose when the mayor proposed a 10% pay cut for city employees.

break loose

See also: break, hell

on the loose

free to move about and dangerous. Police warned that a serial killer is on the loose in the northwest.

play fast and loose with something

to treat something without enough care or attention. The film is very entertaining even though it plays fast and loose with the historical facts.

See also: fast, play

turn someone/something loose

to give up control of someone or something, so they can do what they want. He turned the horse loose in the field. The trouble began when the newspaper turned loose a dozen reporters to investigate the incident.

See also: turn