To be going to hell in a handbasket is to be rapidly deteriorating - on course for disaster.
Simply put, things get worse and worse and don't seem to get better.
The virus is killing millions of people and thousands of people got laid off. I hate to tell you this but things going to hell in a handbasket.
Going to hell in a handbasket is defined as a situation, a place, or a person, or an object headed for disaster inescapably and/or precipitately. When used to describe an object or a house, it means that the object or house is becoming derelict, dangerous to live in, a hazard, and incredibly damaged, or already is.
Synonyms "going to hell in a handcart", "going to hell in a handbag", "go to hell in a bucket", "sending something to hell in a handbasket" and "something being like hell in a handbasket".
Example 1
Person 1: That hoarder house went to hell in a handbasket after that tree branch collapsed the roof.
Person 2: The owner still hasn't repaired the roof.
Example 2
To individuals observing the United States of America from outside of the United States of America during the last 5 years, it looks like the United States of America is going to hell in a handbasket.
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In the 1890s in San Fransciso there was a popular hooker named Helena who was recognizable in that she always carried a small handbasket instead of a purse or handbag; hence she acquired the nickname "Helena Handbasket". Sailors arriving in the port would often say things like "I'm gonna look up Helena Handbasket tonight" or in announcing their intention of what to do after a night at the bar, "Now I'm going to Helena Handbasket", which by association with the sinful nature of the activity involved, became the mondigreen, "going to hell in a handbasket".
Hey dude, if you don't stop chasing so much pussy you're going to hell in a handbasket.