legging it

Fleeing on foot

Legging it is British slang for running away or moving quickly on foot, especially to escape trouble or simply to hurry: We saw the police and legged it.

The phrase suggests urgent, sometimes undignified flight rather than casual walking.

I had to leg it to catch the last train.

fleeing

bolt

Threaded rod for nuts

scarperFlee hastily
skedaddleDepart hastily, often fearfully
abscondFlee to avoid capture

run away · escape · make a break for it · hotfoot · vamoose · beat it · clear out · take flight · make tracks · cut and run

rushing

sprint

Brief maximum-speed effort

dashQuick burst or pinch
hurryMove with urgency
raceCompetition of speed

speed · gallop · scamper · scuttle · hasten · hustle · charge · tear · zoom · barrel

panic

heart-pounding

Causing intense physical excitement

franticWildly anxious or desperate
desperateDriven by urgent need
alarmedFeeling sudden fear

panicked · scramble · stampede · hysteria · cold sweat · frightened · spooked · rattled · shaken · frenzied

Opposites

speed of movement

legging itstrolling

Walking at ease

ambling · sauntering · dawdling · meandering · moseying

mode of locomotion

legging itdriving

Controlling a vehicle

riding · cycling · flying

movement vs. stillness

legging itstanding still

Absence of motion

staying put · sitting tight · not moving · rooted to the spot · sitting

Family

leg, legging, leggings, legs, legged, leggy

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G