hitchhiked
Caught roadside rides
Hitchhiked is the past tense of hitchhike—to travel by soliciting free rides from passing motorists, typically by standing at a roadside with thumb extended.
The practice was common mid-twentieth century but has declined due to safety concerns: We hitchhiked across the country that summer.
Figuratively, to hitchhike is to attach oneself to something already in motion: The amendment hitchhiked on a popular bill.
Short opposable digit
- signMark conveying information
- cardboardRigid paper for containers
- shoulderUpper arm joint
- onrampHighway entry lane
highway · interstate · freeway · motorway · rest stop · truck stop · overpass · roadside
Vehicle operator
- passengerTraveler, not operator
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- pickupSmall open-bed truck
- rideJourney atop something
carpool · trucker · motorist · stranger · vehicle · backseat · dropoff · destination
Travel from place to place
- wanderlustCraving for distant places
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- questSeeking journey for something
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
trek · pilgrimage · backpacking · drifter · vagabond · rover · nomad · ramble
People unknown to you
- trustConfidence in another
- dangerExposure to harm
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
precariousness · safety · caution · unpredictability · exposure · peril · hazard · recklessness
Sudden urge to act
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
chance · random · carefree · flexibility · spur-of-the-moment · wherever · go with the flow · unexpected
Without payment or restriction
- frugalSparing with resources
- cheapLow in price
- brokeLacking any funds
- pennilessCompletely without money
savings · resourceful · thrifty · moneyless · economical · scraping by · student · low-cost
thumb
Short opposable digit
onramp · highway · interstate · freeway · motorway · rest stop · truck stop · overpass · roadside · waiting
driver
Vehicle operator
ride · carpool · trucker · motorist · stranger · vehicle · backseat · dropoff · destination · miles
journey
Travel from place to place
- wanderlustCraving for distant places
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- questSeeking journey for something
expedition · trek · pilgrimage · backpacking · drifter · vagabond · rover · nomad · ramble · freewheeling
strangers
People unknown to you
- trustConfidence in another
- dangerExposure to harm
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
uncertainty · precariousness · safety · caution · unpredictability · exposure · peril · hazard · recklessness · gamble
impulse
Sudden urge to act
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- serendipityAccidental fortunate discovery
- whimSudden arbitrary desire
impromptu · chance · random · carefree · flexibility · spur-of-the-moment · wherever · go with the flow · unexpected · detour
free
Without payment or restriction
penniless · savings · resourceful · thrifty · moneyless · economical · scraping by · student · low-cost · shoestring
- The Hitchhiker's Guide
- Hitchhikers GuideCosmic wanderer's reference book
- phantom hitchhikerDisappearing roadside spirit