[susan53]

No - because if the police don't have the necessary proof for to arrest a specific person, then there is no reason for the suspect to be "hiding". If I say "the criminal is still at large" it means either
a) The police don't know who the criminal is (or can't prove it even if they suspect) and therefore no specific individual is implicated. They just know that there is a criminal and s/he is still free.
or
b) The police know who the criminal is and have enough proof for the arrest, but can't find the person. S/he is "on the run"
So, as I said, "at large" can be used in both contexts, but "on the run" is more specific and restricted to the second situation.

[fface]

Hi susan,

What's the difference between "at large" and "on the loose"?

Thank you very much.
I wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year.

[susan53]

I think they're more or less synonymous. Eg here they'd be interchangeable :

1.With a dangerous and convicted murderer ON THE LOOSE and various alleged sightings of her, authorities hoped to quickly allay public concerns..

When the person/animal/thing is free but restricted to a certain area, then maybe on the loose is more likely - eg:

2. More than 100 prisoners are still ON THE LOOSE in 5 wings of the jail
3. Mystery drone still ON THE LOOSE at Gatwick airport.

On the loose gives prominence to the idea of "free/uncaptured" whereas at large gives more prominence to the idea "it could be anywhere". So it depends which aspect you want to emphasise.

[fface]

Quote susan53

I think they're more or less synonymous. Eg here they'd be interchangeable :

1.With a dangerous and convicted murderer ON THE LOOSE and various alleged sightings of her, authorities hoped to quickly allay public concerns..

Hi susan,
Does 'on the run' also sound natural in the example above?

Can I use at large and on the run in the example below?

"More than 100 prisoners are still ON THE LOOSE in 5 wings of the jail"


Thanks a lot.

[fface]

Quote susan53

When the person/animal/thing is free but restricted to a certain area, then maybe on the loose is more likely - eg:

2. More than 100 prisoners are still ON THE LOOSE in 5 wings of the jail

Hi susan,

What does this sentence above mean? Does it mean those prisoners escaped from the jail and still can't be found?

Can I use 'at large' or 'on the run' instead of 'on the loose' here?

Thank you for your reply.

[susan53]

No - it means that they are free within that area (the 5 wings of the jail) and can't be controlled and confined to their cells. The authorities don't know exactly where any one prisoner is within the prison and the prisoners are in charge. As I said before "on the loose" = free and uncaptured, which is the situation here.
As I also said before at large is less likely in this context, and on the run is impossible because they can't "run" anywhere - they're still confined within the prison. Again, see the previous comments - on the run = in hiding. These prisoners aren't hiding. Their general location is known.

[fface]

Quote susan53

If I say "the criminal is still at large" it means either
a) The police don't know who the criminal is (or can't prove it even if they suspect) and therefore no specific individual is implicated. They just know that there is a criminal and s/he is still free.
or
b) The police know who the criminal is and have enough proof for the arrest, but can't find the person. S/he is "on the run"
So, as I said, "at large" can be used in both contexts, but "on the run" is more specific and restricted to the second situation.

Can I use 'on the loose' in both situations like 'at large' above?

Thank you very much.

[susan53]

In the first - yes. No-one knows who or where the murderer is, but there certainlyisa murderer and s/he is therefore "on the loose"


In the second, no if you are referring to the person suspected. You can only be "on the loose" if you can't be found. in the second case, the police know where their suspect is, they just don't have enough evidence to do anything.

[fface]

Quote susan53

the police know where their suspect is, they just don't have enough evidence to do anything.

Hi susan,

In this situation above, can I say the suspect is at large or on the loose?

Thanks a lot.

[susan53]

No - it's not the suspect who is on the loose/at large, but the criminal.

[fface]

Quote susan53

You can only be "on the loose" if you can't be found.

Hi susan,

I don't understand what you mean here?
Do you mean a suspect who can't be found by the police is on the loose but not at large or on the run?

Many thanks.

[susan53]

No - and you've taken my explanation out of context. You were then talking specifically about a suspect, not a wanted criminal. A suspect is an ordinary person without restrictions, and can therefore be wherever they want to be. When you're talking about a suspect, none of these expressions is really relevant. There is no reason why they should not be "free" or "under control".

You must distinguish between a suspect and a wanted criminal. To summarise:

If a criminal - ie someone who the police want to arrest for a crime - is in hiding and cannot be found, then s/he can be described as "on the loose", "at large" or "on the run" - all three are fine.

- on the loose : free, potentially dangerous or disruptive and not under control
- at large : free, potentially dangerous or disruptive and not under control
- on the run : free, wanted by and in hiding from the police

I don't think there's any more I can say about these expressions. Perhaps someone else could clarify them better.