hits the fan
Trouble becomes public
When the shit hits the fan—often shortened to just hits the fan—a crisis erupts or hidden problems become impossible to ignore.
The image is of flung excrement scattering everywhere.
The phrase marks the moment consequences arrive: Everything was fine until the audit results hit the fan.
- all hell breaks looseComplete disorder suddenly begins
- blows upBursts with force
- goes southWorsens or fails
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- pandemoniumState of utter confusion
dumpster fire · panic · trigger · outrage · domino effect · house of cards · upheaval · snowballs · backlash · fallout · disaster · train wreck · shock · chain reaction · crisis · ripple effect · unravels · point of no return
hits the fanblows over
Gradually becomes forgotten
dies down · swept under the rug · cools down · defused · kept quiet
hits the fanunder control
Being successfully managed
smooth sailing · everything's fine · calm before the storm · business as usual · on an even keel
hit, fan, hits, hitting, hitter, hitters, fans, fanned, fanning