on the loose

O o

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [on, awn stressed th ee loos]
- /ɒn, ɔn stressed ði lus/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [on, awn stressed th ee loos]
- /ɒn, ɔn stressed ði lus/

Definitions of on the loose words

adjective on the loose free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end. 1
adjective on the loose free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered: loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night. 1
adjective on the loose uncombined, as a chemical element. 1
adjective on the loose not bound together: to wear one's hair loose. 1
adjective on the loose not put up in a package or other container: loose mushrooms. 1
adjective on the loose available for disposal; unused; unappropriated: loose funds. 1

See all 42 definitions of on the loose

Information block about the term

Origin of on the loose

First appearance:

before 1175

One of the 8% oldest English words

1175-1225; (adj.) Middle English los, loos < Old Norse lauss loose, free, empty; cognate with Old English lēas (see -less), Dutch, German los loose, free; (v.) Middle English leowsen, lousen, derivative of the adj.

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for On the loose

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of On the loose

on the loose popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

on the loose usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for on the loose

adj on the loose

at large — You use at large to indicate that you are talking in a general way about most of the people mentioned.
at liberty — free, unoccupied, or unrestricted
free as a bird — really free
free-spirited — characterized by independence and unconventionality
free-wheeling — operating in the manner of a freewheel.

adjective on the loose

apart — When people or things are apart, they are some distance from each other.
asunder — If something tears or is torn asunder, it is violently separated into two or more parts or pieces.
loosened — to unfasten or undo, as a bond or fetter.

adverb on the loose

loose — free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end.

All 11 Synonyms of on the loose

Antonyms for on the loose

adjective on the loose

enslaved — Simple past tense and past participle of enslave.
hindered — to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede: The storm hindered our progress.

All 2 Antonyms of on the loose

on the loose

Transcription

Definitions of on the loose words

Information block about the term

Origin of on the loose

First appearance:

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for On the loose

on the loose popularity

on the loose usage trend in Literature

Synonyms for on the loose

adj on the loose

adjective on the loose

adverb on the loose

Antonyms for on the loose

adjective on the loose

See also

Matching words