skip town

Vanish before consequences

To skip town is to leave a place suddenly, usually to avoid trouble—debts, legal problems, angry creditors, or awkward situations.

The phrase suggests hasty, often secretive departure rather than planned relocation: He skipped town before the cops could question him.

She skipped town owing three months' rent.

evasion

abscond

Flee to avoid capture

fleeDepart swiftly from threat
boltThreaded rod for nuts
lamFlight from authorities

runaway · duck out · sneak away · make tracks · take flight · decamp · slip away · go underground · evade · elude

relocation

move away

Leave current location

relocateEstablish residence elsewhere
uprootRemove from the ground
leave behindDepart without taking

start over · new beginning · fresh start · disappear · emigrate · expatriate · new life · reinvent · clean slate · change of scenery

secrecy

covert

Intentionally concealed

furtiveSecretive and sly
stealthySecretly cautious in movement
surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection

incognito · undercover · undetected · cloak-and-dagger · discreet · alias · assumed name · lay low · off the grid · untraceable

Categories

departuresleave, depart, exit, leaving, go
disappearingvanish, fade, disappear, vanishing, evaporate
Escape Termsbreak free, get away, run away, escape route, getaway
dismissalsgo away, get out, leave, scram, beat it

Opposites

presence/departure

skip townstay put

Remain in place

remain · stick around · settle down · arrive · come back

responsibility/evasion

skip townface the music

Accept deserved consequences

stand your ground · own up · take responsibility · stand and deliver · answer for

rootedness/transience

skip townput down roots

Establish a permanent home

settle in · dig in · nest · stake a claim

Family

town, skip, downtown, skipping, uptown, towns, skips, skipped, skipper

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G