hasty retreat
Scramble to safety
A hasty retreat is a rapid withdrawal, especially one forced by unfavorable circumstances rather than planned.
The phrase often describes military forces falling back under pressure, but extends to any situation where someone quickly abandons a position or plan: When the CEO arrived unexpectedly, the gossiping employees made a hasty retreat.
The hastiness implies urgency or even panic rather than orderly departure.
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- fleeDepart swiftly from threat
- escapeFlight from captivity
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
- scrambleMix into disorder
turn tail · rout · panic · stampede · run for cover · abandon · scatter · dash · sprint · cut and run · make a break · chaos · fall back · withdrawal · evacuation · head for the hills · desertion · cowardice
- rushingrushing, hurrying, dashing, sprinting, racing
- retreat commandsfall back, withdraw, pull back, back off, disengage
- Escape Termsbreak free, get away, run away, escape route, getaway
- dramatic exitsdramatic exit, storming out, storm off, door slam, walkout
- retreatsspa, meditation, mindfulness, digital detox, prayer room
hasty retreatadvance
Move or progress forward
charge · offensive · attack · forward march · push forward
hasty retreatorderly retreat
Planned military pullback
strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · fighting retreat · tactical withdrawal
hasty retreatstand one's ground
Refuse to back down
hold the line · last stand · stand · dig in · entrenchment
hasty, hastily, hastiness, haste, hasten, hastened, hastening, hastens, hastier