# release the kraken

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/release-the-kraken
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To unleash a greatly destructive force.

## Examples

- If you ignore the warnings, you will release the kraken.
- The manager decided to release the kraken by filing a massive lawsuit against the competing company.
- By ignoring the diplomatic protocols and authorizing the full military strike, the leader effectively released the kraken upon the unsuspecting region.

## Origin

The expression originates from the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, in which the command is given to unleash a captive sea monster. It entered the lexicon as a reference to this cinematic event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.