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
Bunny cop Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and street fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are unlikely friends and partners who saved the city of Zootopia and have to do it again, with a snake on the loose.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
But the fires leave Fitchburg resident Brenda Martinez fearful of a potential arsonist on the loose.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Ajsac Sirin was sitting on a metal tree guard outside the store when Lavel Boddie, Fritzgens Delia and two other men still on the loose swarmed him, according to a criminal complaint.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Your satire of suburban malaise doesn’t also have to be a hangout comedy with a murderer on the loose.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on the loose
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Brian Truitt, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
But the fires leave Fitchburg resident Brenda Martinez fearful of a potential arsonist on the loose.
—Samantha Chaney, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Ajsac Sirin was sitting on a metal tree guard outside the store when Lavel Boddie, Fritzgens Delia and two other men still on the loose swarmed him, according to a criminal complaint.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
Your satire of suburban malaise doesn’t also have to be a hangout comedy with a murderer on the loose.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
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 28 Feb. 2026.
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