Going to Hades in a Handbasket
Going to Hades in a handbasket means everything is falling apart quickly or heading toward disaster. A classic American idiom long kept alive in Southern and Appalachian speech.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard ''this whole place is goin’ to Hades in a handbasket' plenty, but I think it's a phrase that's used everywhere. I imagine that may be where the Wicked Witch of the East may have been headed on her bicycle. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard ''this whole place is goin’ to Hades in a handbasket' plenty, but I think it's a phrase that's used everywhere. I imagine that may be where the Wicked Witch of the East may have been headed on her bicycle. Pronunciation
[GO-in tuh HAY-deez in uh HAN-bask-it]
/ˈɡoʊɪn tə ˈheɪdiːz ɪn ə ˈhændˌbæskɪt/
Meaning & Usage
- Heading for disaster or rapid decline
Hazel:
Kids today ain’t got no manners.
Kids today ain’t got no manners.
Earl:
Yep - world’s goin’ to Hades in a handbasket.
Yep - world’s goin’ to Hades in a handbasket.Origin
The saying appears in **mid-19th-century American writing**, especially sermons and political speeches warning of moral decline.
The phrase uses "Hades" (a polite stand-in) combined with the comic image of a person being carried away in a small basket, suggesting quick, helpless ruin.
Though not Southern in origin, the expression found a long home in **Southern and Appalachian moral talk**, Sunday school warnings, and everyday conversation.
Verdict: Southern. Older American idiom, preserved strongly in the South.
Notes
- Often used in joking moral commentary ("world’s goin’ to Hades"").
- Polite Southern alternative to "somewhere else in a handbasket."
- Still common among older Southerners and preachers.
- Pairs with sayings like "the devil’s in the details" and "root hog or die."
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 15). Going to Hades in a Handbasket. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/going-to-hades-in-a-handbasket
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Going to Hades in a Handbasket." HillbillySlang.com, 15 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/going-to-hades-in-a-handbasket.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Going to Hades in a Handbasket." HillbillySlang.com. November 15, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/going-to-hades-in-a-handbasket.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...