Ever heard this saying ?

Question

Ever heard this saying ?
"The world going to hell in a hand basket."
What does this mean, and who is carrying the basket ?

Answer 1

'... It’s a fairly common American expression, known for much of the twentieth century. But it’s one about which almost no information exists, at least in the two dozen or so reference books I’ve consulted. William and Mary Morris, in their Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, confess to the same difficulty. A handbasket is just a basket to be carried in the hand (my thanks to the Oxford English Dictionary for that gem of definition). The Dictionary of American Regional English records to go to heaven in a handbasket rather earlier than the alternative, which doesn’t appear in print until the 1940s (Walt Quader tells me that Burton Stevenson included a citation in his Home Book of Proverbs, Maxims and Familiar Phrases from Bayard Kendrick’s The Odor of Violets, published in 1941). But DARE quotes a related expression from 1714: “A committee brought in something about Piscataqua. Govr said he would give his head in a Handbasket as soon as he would pass it”, which suggests that it, or at least phrases like it, have been around in the spoken language for a long time. For example, there’s an even older expression, to go to heaven in a wheelbarrow, recorded as early as 1629, which also meant “to go to hell”. I can only assume that the alliteration of the hs has had a lot to do with the success of the various phrases, and that perhaps handbasket suggests something easily and speedily done.'

Answer 2

The world being made up of a lot of stuff (like groceries you by) put in a Hand Basket Makes it easier to carry and kept together.

Answer 3

With the way things are runned the world is going to hell. Like they say, the pathway to hell is paved with good intentions. The leaders and people try to do things with good intentions (mind you not all) but some do it the easy but what people consider bad way. We're practically handing the world to hell "in a hand basket"

Answer 4

I believe the quote is in reference to Attila the Hun and his army. To prove that they killed the enemy and be paid the Huns had to return with the right hand of every enemy they killed they carried the hands in a basket thus a "hand basket" I'm not sure where the Hell part figures in ( ok I can't remember...) but it's safe to say if the Huns were fighting you it would feel like HELL!

MeOw!

Answer 5

I maybe going to hell in a basket baby but atleast I am enjoying the ride

Answer 6

Yes, I heard of it. I believe it is Satan the one who's holding the basket

Answer 7

Maybe the grim reaper is carrying the basket?

Answer 8

It's an expression, somewhat of an oxymoron...meaning everything is going downhill and "hand Basket" as is...

Answer 9

In the book of Job, It is said, Satan collects the souls of those who sought sin in his hand basket made of vine and thorn.

Answer 10

yes i have heard of it as a matter of fact i use that phrase often.it is my understanding that we,us the people of this world are holding the basket and we are going to just hand it to Satan