cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war

"Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war" is a phrase from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. It is spoken by Mark Antony in Act 3, Scene 1, after the assassination of Caesar. The phrase is an invitation or call to chaos, excitement, or violence. In the context of the play, it suggests that the conspirators have ignited a destructive force that will be unleashed upon Rome. It captures the idea of releasing or unleashing something dangerous or unpredictable, akin to setting loose ferocious dogs on a battlefield. The phrase is often used metaphorically to describe a situation where there is an unleashing of chaos or violence.