to hell in a handbasket
English
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to hell in a handbasket
Where it comes from
Images in church iconography suggest similar phrases may date back to 1515. The first attestation is from 1682, the variation to hell in a handcart is attested since 1841, and a phrase similar to to heaven in a wheelbarrow is first attested in 1618. The popularity of the variation "to hell in a handbasket" may be connected to its alliteration.
phrase to hell in a handcart
- To go to a bad state of affairs quickly. I watched as the guy in charge did nothing and the whole place went to hell in a handbasket.
Translations
Every language
prep_phrase To go to a bad state of affairs, to become ruined
| Français | partir en vrille, partir en sucette, partir en couille, partir en cacahuète, se casser la gueule, tomber à l'eau |
|---|---|
| Română | naiba de tot, naibii de tot, dracu’ de tot, dracului de tot |
Talk about this word "to hell in a handbasket." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/to%20hell%20in%20a%20handbasket. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. to hell in a handbasket. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/to%20hell%20in%20a%20handbasket "to hell in a handbasket." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/to%20hell%20in%20a%20handbasket.Cite this
@misc{to_hell_in_a_handbasket_2026,
title = {to hell in a handbasket},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/to%20hell%20in%20a%20handbasket},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
