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
But the bodies of young men continued to stack up after Bonin’s capture, leading investigators to believe another killer was on the loose.
—
Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
As the casualties have mounted, locals have speculated on everything from the birds being electrocuted by power lines to a phantom serial bird killer being on the loose.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 May 2025
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There’s a new type of criminal on the loose.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2025
Flaco’s Kingdom: Before his demise, the Eurasian eagle-owl’s escape from the Central Park Zoo and subsequent life on the loose captured the public’s attention and hearts.
—Kholood Eid, New York Times, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
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Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
As the casualties have mounted, locals have speculated on everything from the birds being electrocuted by power lines to a phantom serial bird killer being on the loose.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 May 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
There’s a new type of criminal on the loose.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2025
Flaco’s Kingdom: Before his demise, the Eurasian eagle-owl’s escape from the Central Park Zoo and subsequent life on the loose captured the public’s attention and hearts.
—Kholood Eid, New York Times, 2 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 24 May. 2025.
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