hit the fan
Everything goes wrong
When something hits the fan, trouble erupts—usually consequences that have been building finally arrive in dramatic fashion.
The full expression is "shit hits the fan," evoking the spectacular mess of excrement striking rotating blades.
Everything was fine until the audit report hit the fan.
Often appears as when it hits the fan or before it hits the fan.
- blow upViolently burst apart
- all hell breaks looseComplete disorder suddenly begins
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
outrage · stir the pot · break loose · panic · open Pandora's box · point of no return · come to light · disaster · rock the boat · debacle · frustration · emergency · scandal · upheaval · throw a wrench in the works · upset the apple cart · shock · confrontation
- chaos idiomsall hell breaks loose, pandemonium, madhouse, circus, bedlam
hit the fanblow over
Pass and be forgotten
fly under the radar · fizzle out · die down · stay quiet · simmer down
hit, fan, hits, hitting, hitter, hitters, fans, fanned, fanning