hightail
Leave in haste
Hightail means to leave quickly, usually to escape or avoid something: We hightailed it out of there when the cops showed up.
The image comes from animals like deer or horses raising their tails as they flee.
Almost always appears as hightail it.
Depart hastily, often fearfully
- vamooseDepart hastily
- scramDepart hastily, informally
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
- abscondFlee to avoid capture
decamp · flee · escape · split · scoot · beat it · make tracks · take off
Quick burst or pinch
Serious sudden danger
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- desperationUtter loss of hope
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
flight · getaway · narrow escape · close call · last-minute · time-sensitive · pressing
skedaddle
Depart hastily, often fearfully
abscond · decamp · flee · escape · split · scoot · beat it · make tracks · take off · fly the coop
dash
Quick burst or pinch
bolt · zoom · tear · barrel · rocket · zip · jet · whiz · speed · charge
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- desperationUtter loss of hope
- alarmUrgent warning signal
crisis · flight · getaway · narrow escape · close call · last-minute · time-sensitive · pressing
hightailleisurely stroll
stroll · leisurely walk · take one's time · loiter · unhurried
- hightail itDepart with urgency
- hightailed itDeparted very quickly
- hightailing itDeparting very quickly