on the loose
idiom
: able to move freely : not controlled or held in a prison, cage, etc.
—used especially to describe a dangerous person, animal, or group
The prisoner escaped and is still on the loose.
A killer is on the loose.
An angry mob was on the loose.
Examples of on the loose in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As of late Saturday night, the gunman was on the loose.
—
Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Adam Linhardt said initial reports were that two people were in custody as of 11:30 a.m., and one person is still on the loose.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
After Alexander Wennberg’s shot from the point went wide of the net, Thompson pounced on the loose puck and fired a shot from near the faceoff dot that got past Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz at the 2:23 mark of the third period.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
The murderer on the loose, as the manhunt now spreads across the country.
—ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
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Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Adam Linhardt said initial reports were that two people were in custody as of 11:30 a.m., and one person is still on the loose.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
After Alexander Wennberg’s shot from the point went wide of the net, Thompson pounced on the loose puck and fired a shot from near the faceoff dot that got past Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz at the 2:23 mark of the third period.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
The murderer on the loose, as the manhunt now spreads across the country.
—ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
Cite this Entry
“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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