Basically, this is when emotions breakloose and people get hurt. A literal meaning would be that shit gets on everybody due to the intrinsic nature of the fan.
Expression - A derivative of the original: "The excrement made physical contact with a hydro-electric powered oscillating air current distribution device". Used primarily to describe a set of circumstances where events became inflamed to a point that control was lost.
Her insults rolled of me like water but the shit hit the fan after she claimed to possess information leading to proof that my Mother wore Army boots.
An expression used to convey the utter hopelessness of a situation, given that everything has gone wrong with little or no chance of salvaging.
Biff: "Hey, Melvin - you know how you and your twin brother have been swapping girlfriends every other week?"
Melvin: "Hellz yeah...pretty sweet, huh?"
Biff: "Not really...someone spilled the beans, and now your girlfriends know."
Melvin: "OH NOES!! The s*** has hit the fan!!"
Jane: Mary heard from joe that we stole her money.
Jackie: What are we going to do?
Jane: I don't know... i guess the shit just hit the fan, theres nothing to do.