toddling off
Ambling away now
Toddling off means leaving or departing, usually in an unhurried, casual way.
The phrase borrows from the unsteady gait of toddlers to suggest a relaxed, ambling exit rather than a purposeful one: Well, I suppose I should be toddling off now.
It's mildly self-deprecating, often used when excusing oneself from a social situation.
- totterMove unsteadily, nearly falling
- leaveSanctioned time away
- heading outStarting to leave
- making tracksDeparting swiftly, urgently
- stepFoot movement forward
wobble · amble · exit · decamp · taking leave · shuffle · mosey · saunter · retreat · dawdle · drift · meander · stagger · abscond · crawl · pottering about · withdraw · vacate
direction of movement
toddling offarriving
Reaching a destination
coming over · approaching · showing up · rolling in · coming in
action versus inaction
toddling offstaying put
Remaining in place
sticking around · remaining · lingering · settling in · hanging around