Like a bat out of hell

Origin

The vivid image of a bat darting erratically and swiftly from a dark cave or hidden recess, coupled with the dramatic intensity of 'hell,' gives this phrase its potent energy. While the precise moment it entered common lexicon is elusive, it gained significant traction in the 20th century. The era's technological advancements demanded powerful metaphors for intense speed and urgency, and the phrase perfectly captured the sense of something erupting forth with unstoppable, almost frantic, velocity, as if propelled by a terrifying escape from a place of torment. It paints a picture of explosive, uncontrolled motion.