when the looting starts, the shooting starts
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Lethal force is justified against rioters and looters.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” mean?
Lethal force is justified against rioters and looters.
Is “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.