make oneself scarce
Leave the area
To make oneself scarce is to leave quickly or stay away, especially to avoid trouble, awkwardness, or someone's displeasure.
The phrase suggests deliberate absence—removing yourself from a situation before things get uncomfortable: When Dad started yelling, I made myself scarce.
It can also be a pointed suggestion to leave: Why don't you make yourself scarce for a while?
- take offBegin flight, depart
- get lostDismissive order to leave
- decampDepart abruptly, often secretly
- leaveSanctioned time away
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
depart · do a runner · disappear · vanish · flee · head for the hills · get out of Dodge · evade · elude · slip away · duck out · take a powder · avoidance · tact · sneak away · fade away · fly the coop · lie low
make oneself scarceshow up
Arrive or outperform
appear · stick around · linger · hang around · stay put
make oneself scarcehorn in
Intrude uninvited
butt in · intrude · overstay one's welcome · make one's presence felt · muscle in
makes, making, maker, makers, oneself, selves, scarce, scarcely, scarceness