head for the hills
Seek remote safety
To head for the hills is to flee quickly, especially to escape danger or avoid an unpleasant situation.
The phrase evokes retreating to remote terrain where pursuers can't follow: When the boss started assigning weekend shifts, everyone headed for the hills.
Sometimes used as a warning: If you see my mother-in-law's car pull up, head for the hills.
- go forthMove forward, depart
- hit the roadBegin one's journey
- go awayCommand to leave
- run awayDepart hastily to escape
- leaveSanctioned time away
get out of town · skedaddle · flee · make tracks · run · run for your life · evacuate · take flight · escape · make a break for it · bug out · hightail · cut and run · haven · sanctuary · make a run for it · fly · asylum
head for the hillsstand your ground
Refuse to back down
face the music · hold your ground · take a stand · dig in · hold the line
head for the hillsstay put
Remain in place
stand still · hunker down · stay the course · come back · return
head, heads, headed, heading, header, headless, headfirst, hill, hills