hightail it
Beat a retreat
Hightail it means to leave quickly or hurry away, often to escape trouble: We hightailed it out of there before the cops showed up.
The image comes from animals like deer or rabbits raising their tails as they flee.
Sometimes shortened to just hightail: Better hightail it home before dark.
- skedaddleDepart hastily, often fearfully
- scramDepart hastily, informally
- get out of DodgeUrgently leave a dangerous situation
- make tracksDepart with urgency
- vamooseDepart hastily
beat it · haul ass · flee · bug out · bolt · leg it · make a run for it · take flight · run for the hills · clear out · beat a hasty retreat · abscond · book it · take off · duck out · leave · hotfoot it · go away
departure vs. staying
hightail itstay
Remain in position
remain · stay put · linger · stick around · stand one's ground
urgency and deliberateness
hightail ittake one's time
Act without haste
dillydally · lollygag · leisurely stroll · sashay · meander