Basically, this is when emotions break loose and people get hurt. A literal meaning would be that shit gets on everybody due to the intrinsic nature of the fan.
"I found out my brother was sleeping with my wife, and that's when shit hit the fan."
by Define Please June 14, 2016
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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.
by regedt32 April 6, 2004
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When something like an argument, fight or a problem happens and it turns bad and/or gets out of control.
Property owner: "I'VE TOLD YOU THREE TIMES TO GET OFF MY PROPERTY! You need to leave NOW before shit hits the fan.
by Gohan Barracuda August 27, 2018
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1. When the critical moment occurs, usually involves the culmination of some sort of crisis or scandal.

2. When shit is literally slung into a fan. (See the movie Airplane.)
When your wife finds out, the shit's gonna hit the fan.
by Stroll August 23, 2004
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When things get chaotic or uncontrolable, shit has hit the fan.
3,000 people were waiting for the movie 7 hours before it opened. When it was announced that the movie would not be showing, 50 chimps on motorcycles parachuted down from the sky. The monkeys pulled out assorted automatic assault weapons and then the shit hit the fan.
by John_the_WOTist May 16, 2003
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A combination of shit hits the fan and worse comes to worst.

An expression used to convey that a situation has taken on a negative path or direction, or the situation has evolved into the absolute worst possible, chaotic state.
If shit comes to fan, we'd better run!
by Burrito! May 21, 2010
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An idiomatic expression used to convey that something disastrous has occured.
The moment I saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center, I knew that shit had hit the fan.
by Brian T November 26, 2003
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