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
Five escapees from a Louisiana prison are still on the loose.
—
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Texas murder suspect on the loose after escaping before court appearance
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, accepted blame.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 May 2025
Seven of the 10 inmates who audaciously escaped from New Orleans jail on Friday are still on the loose while three have been captured as authorities say they were helped by someone on the inside.
—Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
The slayings led to weeks of investigation from police, frustrations from the victims’ families about the pace of the police work and fear in the local community of a mass killer on the loose.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
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Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Texas murder suspect on the loose after escaping before court appearance
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, accepted blame.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 May 2025
Seven of the 10 inmates who audaciously escaped from New Orleans jail on Friday are still on the loose while three have been captured as authorities say they were helped by someone on the inside.
—Michael Dorgan , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
The slayings led to weeks of investigation from police, frustrations from the victims’ families about the pace of the police work and fear in the local community of a mass killer on the loose.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
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 4 Jun. 2025.
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