hop the twig
1. obsolete To die. The poor man lay in bed for nearly a fortnight, out of his mind with fever and delirium. Finally, in the early hours of Friday, he hopped the twig and passed into a peaceful, eternal sleep.
2. obsolete To leave something or some place very quickly or suddenly. Investigators believe the money lender hopped the twig to America after suspicions about the legality of his business arose.