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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The shooter remained on the loose, and officers were searching the area, police said. —

Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024 The suspect remained on the loose for several days, until he was hospitalized after an unrelated robbery in West Oakland, according to police. —

Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024 While Gabi Mosely finally managed to save Lacey from Sir’s clutches, their kidnapper is still on the loose in Thursday night’s upcoming episode of NBC’s Found. —

Katie Campione, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024 Set in 1946, this proto-slasher takes a true-crime, docu-thriller approach to the masked killer on the loose in the small town of Texarkana. —

Meagan Navarro, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for on the loose

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“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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