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to hell in a handbasket

To a bad state of affairs quickly.

Etymology:

  • This term dates back to at least 1941, but its origins, albeit scarce in documentation, date back even further to 1913 with the term to heaven in a handbasket or to heaven in a wheelbarrow. Even more abstract references date back to 1714 with a text reading, "Govr said he would give his head in a Handbasket as soon as he would pass it."
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I watched as the guy in charge did nothing and the whole place went to hell in a handbasket.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to to hell in a handbasket

the road to hell is paved with good int…what the hellsnowball's chance in hellto hell withnothing but to face hellshut the hell upsee you in hellno way in sam helluntil hell freezes overraise hellthe hell out ofscared as hellthe hell you saywhat the hell

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    "to hell in a handbasket." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/to-hell-in-a-handbasket_7591>.

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