Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

the shit hit the fan

idiom

/ðə ʃɪt hɪt ðə fæn/

Definition

A phrase used to describe a situation where something goes wrong and chaos ensues.

Examples

When management announced the budget cuts, you could tell that the shit hit the fan in the office.
Everything was fine until he told his boss about the mistake; that’s when the shit hit the fan.

Meaning

When the shit hits the fan, it means that a difficult or troubling situation has escalated dramatically, leading to public outrage or widespread problems.