phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

All hell broke/breaks loose

Posted by Syntinen@btinternet.com on April 04, 2008 at 20:55:

In Reply to: All hell broke/breaks loose posted by Josh on April 04, 2008 at 16:54:

: Any history on the phrase "All hell broke/breaks loose"? The phrase seems obvious at first, but so do many other phrases whose origins have surprised me.

It's from Milton (Paradise Lost):
"But wherefore all alone? Wherefore with thee / Came not all hell broke loose? (VSD)

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.