hightailed it
Left in haste
Hightailed it means fled or departed quickly, usually to escape trouble or avoid something unpleasant: When the cops showed up, we hightailed it out of there.
The image comes from animals like deer or horses raising their tails as they bolt.
The phrase suggests hasty, undignified retreat rather than casual departure.
Fastened or fled suddenly
- skedaddledDeparted hastily, informally
- abscondedDeparted secretly, furtively
- decampedDeparted suddenly, often secretly
- splitSeparation into parts
scampered · scooted · escaped · vanished · disappeared · took off · ran off · beat it
Done with excessive speed
- sprintedRan at top speed
- racedMoved with great speed
- spedMoved with haste
- dashedMoved with sudden speed
darted · hurried · hastened · galloped · tore off · zoomed · zipped · whizzed
Overwhelmed by sudden fear
- alarmedFeeling sudden fear
- spookedFrightened into alertness
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
bolted
Fastened or fled suddenly
- skedaddledDeparted hastily, informally
- abscondedDeparted secretly, furtively
- decampedDeparted suddenly, often secretly
split · scampered · scooted · escaped · vanished · disappeared · took off · ran off · beat it · made tracks
rushed
Done with excessive speed
dashed · darted · hurried · hastened · galloped · tore off · zoomed · zipped · whizzed · scrambled
panicked
Overwhelmed by sudden fear
- alarmedFeeling sudden fear
- spookedFrightened into alertness
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
hightailed itstayed put
Continued in place
stood one's ground · remained · stuck around · tarried · lingered
hightail, hightailed, hightailing, hightails, high, higher, highest, highly, highness