General
going to hell in a handbasket
What does going to hell in a handbasket mean?
Said of a situation heading swiftly for disaster.
"Ever since the mill closed, this town's been going to hell in a handbasket."
Origin
American idiom, 1800s; the alliterative "handbasket" conveys an easy, quick trip to ruin.
Frequently asked questions
What does "going to hell in a handbasket" mean?
It means a situation is deteriorating rapidly and heading for disaster.
Where is it from?
It's an American idiom dating to the 1800s; the alliterative "handbasket" suggests an easy, quick trip to ruin.
How do you use it?
Lament a worsening situation, e.g. "Ever since the mill closed, this town's been going to hell in a handbasket."
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