to release the kraken - Glite Dictionary

Examples

After months of planning, the company decided to release the kraken with their bold new campaign.
Be careful what you wish for; if you complain too loudly, you might release the kraken of criticism.
When the debate started, she was ready to release the kraken of facts she'd prepared.
They plan to release the kraken this weekend.
When the storm hit, we decided to release the kraken and let chaos take over.
In his speech, he urged the team to release the kraken and embrace their wildest ideas.
With that final push, the scientist was ready to release the kraken on their experimental project.

Synonyms

to unleash

vsto release the kraken

206 4.3

To suddenly let a strong feeling, power, or animal go free

highlights the chaotic and uncontrollable outcome rather than the sudden act

Antonyms

to restrain

233 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

to contain

220 3.5

To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse

How Powerful

to release the kraken

Slang

1 9.9

to unleash

206 4.3

to release

∞ 1.8

to let loose

Informal

24 3.9

Surface Forms

release the kraken infinitive

Morphology

release + the + kraken

The meaning 'to unleash something powerful or uncontrollable' follows directly from combining 'release' (set free) with 'kraken' (a huge mythical sea monster); a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer releasing a dangerous creature and, by extension, unleashing chaos. Although the phrase has a pop‑culture origin, its figurative sense is a straightforward extension of the literal constituents, making the expression predictable from its parts.

Etymology

The idiom release the kraken comes from old sea stories about a giant sea monster called the kraken, which sailors said would smash ships if it was let loose. A famous movie line 'release the kraken' made the image even stronger, and that's why today people use the phrase to mean 'unleash' something very 'powerful' or 'chaotic'.