out on the loose
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
"on the spree," in search of adventures. See ON THE LOOSE.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “out on the loose” mean?
"on the spree," in search of adventures. See ON THE LOOSE.
Is “out on the loose” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.