Hell in a Handbag

What is Hell in a Handbag?

The phrase you are asking about is more commonly known as “going to hell in a handbasket.” The variation “going to hell in a handbag” is a less popular, though synonymous, expression.¹

Both phrases are informal idioms used to describe a situation that is quickly and surely heading toward complete deterioration or ruin. The popularity of the primary version, “going to hell in a handbasket,” is largely attributed to its use of alliteration. While the term handbasket refers to a small, portable basket, its inclusion in the idiom implies a sense of ease and speed in the process of decline. Evidence for the more common “handbasket” variant dates back to at least the American Civil War, though such expressions often circulate in spoken language long before appearing in written records.²¹³

What is the role of alliteration in creating popular idioms?

Alliteration—the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words or within stressed syllables—plays a significant role in making idioms memorable and popular. By reinforcing specific sounds, alliteration creates a rhythmic quality that helps phrases stick in the listener’s mind, a technique frequently observed in common expressions like “pretty as a picture” and “dead as a doornail.”⁴⁵

Beyond its use in everyday speech, alliteration serves as a powerful poetic device used to add emphasis and musicality to language. While it is often discussed alongside assonance and consonance, its ability to link words through sound repetition makes it an effective tool for crafting enduring idioms that persist across generations. Historically, this technique was even more foundational, serving as a formal structural principle in ancient alliterative verse.⁴⁵

How do idioms change over time in the English language?

Idioms in the English language are subject to the same processes of linguistic change that affect all aspects of human speech. Because languages are transmitted across generations, they undergo constant, gradual evolution in pronunciation, syntax, and semantics.

Idioms, which are expressions whose meanings cannot be deduced from their individual components, often shift as the cultural contexts that birthed them fade or transform. While many changes occur slowly over several generations, idioms tied to slang or specific jargons may evolve rapidly. These expressions often serve to promote group solidarity, and as cultural trends shift, older idioms may become dated or fall out of common usage entirely.⁶⁷

Furthermore, the structural forms of idioms—such as phrasal verbs—can be influenced by broader shifts in grammatical usage. As society changes, the way we use language to express concepts like “retreat” or “undecided” adapts to reflect the current vocabulary and social environment of the speakers.⁷⁶

What are some other common idioms that describe failure or ruin?

There are many idioms in the English language used to describe failure, ruin, or a sudden downfall. Here are several common examples:

• Bite the dust: Often used to describe suffering a defeat, humiliation, or coming to an end.⁸
• Flame out: A term for being unsuccessful, collapsing, or failing in a venture.⁹¹⁰
• Lay an egg: An idiomatic way to describe a failure or a poor performance.⁹¹⁰
• Come a cropper: An expression used when someone experiences a sudden failure or a fall.⁹¹⁰
• Die on the vine: Used to describe a project or idea that fails before it can fully develop or succeed.⁹¹⁰
• Fall flat: Often used when an attempt or performance fails to achieve the intended effect or success.⁹¹⁰
• Kiss of death: A phrase describing an action or circumstance that serves as the cause of one’s ultimate failure or ruin.¹¹
• Come to grief: An idiom indicating that someone has met with disaster or failure.⁹¹⁰