Going to hell in a ...

Posted by Kevin on February 08, 2001

In Reply to: Going to hell in a ... posted by ESC on January 09, 19100

I just heard a possible explanation for the term "going to hell in a handbasket" on a radio show. In France, when the guillotine was used for executions, people would gather beforehand to socialize and witness the beheading. It was assumed that since the convicted person was guilty of the crime charged, that they were going to hell. And once the guillotine came down, their head would fall into a basket placed there. Thus the term evolved "going to hell in a handbasket".