[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.