DEPART
be off
to leave; to depart.Well, I must be off. Good-bye.The train leaves in an hour, so I must be off.
bound for somewhere
on the way to somewhere; planning to go to somewhere.I'm bound for Mexico. In fact, I'm leaving this afternoon.I'm bound for the bank. Do you want to go, too?
break camp
to close down a campsite; to pack up and move on.Early this morning we broke camp and moved on northward.Okay, everyone. It's time to break camp. Take those tents down and fold them neatly.
bug out
to leave; to pack up and get out. (Slang.)It's time to bug out. Let's get out of here.I just got a call from headquarters. They say to bug out immediately.
clear out
to get out (of some place); to leave.All right, you people, clear out of here now.I knew right then that it was time to clear out.
come and gone
already arrived and already departed. (Fixed order.)No, Joy is not here. She's come and gone.Sorry, you are too late for your appointment. The doctor has come and gone.
get off
to leave; to depart.The plane did not get off on time.We have to get off early in the morning before the traffic gets heavy.
get out while the getting is good
to leave a place while it is still possible to do so; to withdraw from a place, position, or some organization at an opportune time.The party was getting noisy enough that one of the neighbors was bound to call the police, so we left. We always get out while the getting is good.Everyone at my office was being required to do more and more work. I decided to get out while the getting was good. I quit.
go astray
to leave the proper path (literally or figuratively).Stay right on the road. Don't go astray and get lost.Follow the rules I've given you and don't go astray. That'll keep you out of trouble.
go away empty-handed
to depart with nothing.I hate for you to go away empty-handed, but I cannot afford to contribute any money.They came hoping for some food, but they had to go away empty-handed.
gone goose
someone or something that has departed or run away.Surely, the burglar is a gone goose by now.The child was a gone goose, and we did not know where to look for him.
gone with the wind
gone; mysteriously gone. (A phrase made famous by the Margaret Mitchell novel and film Gone with the Wind. The phrase is used to make gone have a stronger force.)Everything we worked for was gone with the wind.Jean was nowhere to be found. She was gone with the wind.
hit the road
to depart; to begin one's journey, especially on a road trip; to leave for home. (Slang.)It's time to hit the road. I'll see you.We have to hit the road very early in the morning.
hotfoot it out of somewhere
to run away from a place. (Folksy.)Did you see Tom hotfoot it out of the office when the boss came in?Things are looking bad. I think we had better hotfoot it out of here.
jumping-off point and jumping-off place
a point or place from which to begin something.The local library is a good jumping-off point for your research.The office job in that company would be a good jumping-off place for a job in advertising.
leave someone in peace
to stop bothering someone; to go away and leave someone in peace. (Does not necessarily mean to go away from a person.)Please go—leave me in peace.can't you see that you're upsetting her? Leave her in peace.
light out (for somewhere)
to depart in haste for somewhere. (Informal.)The bus pulled away and lit out for the next stop.It's time I lit out for home.I should have lit out ten minutes ago.
make oneself scarce
to go away. (Slang.)Hey, kid, go away. Make yourself scarce.When there is work to be done, I make myself scarce.
off someone or something goes
someone or something is leaving. (Said on the departure of someone or something.)It's time to leave. Off I go.Sally looked at the airplane taking off and said, "Off it goes. "
part company (with someone)
to leave someone; to depart from someone.Tom finally parted company with his brother.They parted company, and Tom got in his car and drove away.
push off
to go away. (Informal.)We told the children to push off.Push off! We don't want you here.
run an errand and go on an errand
to take a short trip to do a specific thing.I've got to run an errand. I'll be back in a minute.John has gone on an errand. He'll be back shortly.
run off with someone and run off
to run away with someone, as in an elopement.Tom ran off with Ann.Tom and Ann ran off and got married.
see a man about a dog
to leave for some unmentioned purpose. (Informal. Often refers to going to the rest room.)I don't know where Tom went. He said he had to see a man about a dog.When John said he was going to see a man about a dog, I thought he would be gone for only a minute.
see the last of someone or something
to see someone or something for the last time.I'm glad to see the last of that old car. It has a lot of problems.The people at my office were happy to see the last of John. He caused a lot of trouble before he left.
take a powder
to leave (a place); to sneak out or run out (of a place).(Slang.)When the police came to the door, Tom decided it was time to take a powder. He left by the back door.When the party got a little dull, Bill and his friend took a powder.
take a walk and take a hike
to leave somewhere. (Slang.)He was rude to me, so I just took a walk and left him standing there.He was getting on my nerves, so I told him to take a hike.
take (one's) leave (of someone)
to say good-bye to someone and leave.I took leave of the hostess at an early hour.One by one, the guests took their leave.
DEPART - EXIT
pile out (of something)
to get out of something roughly.Okay, kids, pile out!The car door burst open, and the children piled out.
walk out on someone or something
to leave a performance (of something by someone).We didn't like the play at all, so we walked out.John was giving a very dull speech, and a few people even walked out on him.
DEPART - FAST
take to one's heels
to run away.The little boy said hello and then took to his heels.The man took to his heels to try to get to the bus stop before the bus left.
tear off
to leave or depart in a great hurry. (Informal.)Well, excuse me. I have to tear off.Bob tore off down the street, chasing the fire engine.
ankle
in. to walk away from one's employment; to leave.One more day like this, and I'm gonna ankle.I didn't fire her. I told her she could ankle if she wanted.
bail (out)
in. to resign or leave; to get free of someone or something.I can't take any more. I'm going to bail out.Albert bailed just before he got fired.
Beam me up, Scotty!
sent. “Get me out of here!”; “Take me away from this mess!” (From the television program Star Trek.)This place is really crazy! Beam me up, Scotty!I've heard enough! Beam me up, Scotty!
Beat it!
exclam. “Get out!”; “Go away!”You bother me. Beat it!Beat it! I've had it with you.
be casper
n. to be leaving; to be disappearing. (In the manner of Casper, the friendly ghost—a cartoon character.)We'll be casper in just a minute.I'm casper. See you later.
Bite the ice!
exclam. “Go to hell!”If that's what you think, you can just bite the ice!Get a life! Bite the ice!
blow
tr. & in. to leave (someplace) in a hurry.It's late. I gotta blow.They blew this place before you got here.
Blow it out your ear!
exclam. “Go away!”; “I don't believe it!”Oh, blow it out your ear, you cornball!You are not way rad, you're just way out, twit! Blow it out your ear!
blow town
tr. to get out of town, probably in a hurry. (Underworld.)He blew town yesterday.I gotta pack and blow town. The cops are on to me.
bolt
in. to leave; to go away. (Not necessarily fast.)Time to go, man. Let's bolt.Time to bolt. Got to get home.
bone out
in. to leave.It's time we boned out and got home.Ted and Bill boned out after midnight.
boogie
in. to leave.Come on, man. Let's boogie.Time to boogie. It's late.
book
in. to leave.Time's up. Gotta book.Let's book. I'm late.
break out
in. to leave.It's late, man. Time to break out.We broke out a little after midnight.
Bug off!
exclam. “Get out!”; “Go away!”Bug off! Get out of here!Bug off and leave me alone!
bug out
1.
in. to pack up and retreat. (Military.)
Orders are to bug out by ohnine- hundred.Okay, everybody, move it! We're bugging out.
2.
in. to get out of somewhere fast.
I gotta find a way to bug out of here without getting caught.Okay, it's clear. Let's bug out.
bust a move
tr. to leave (a place).Let's go. Time to bust a move.Let's bust a move. Lots to do tomorrow.
bust ass out of someplace
in. to get out of someplace in a hurry. (Use with caution.)I had to bust ass out of the house and run all the way to school.Wayne busted ass out of the classroom and headed for home.
Butt out!
exclam. “Get out of my affairs!”; “Mind your own business!”Go away! Butt out!Butt out! I'm busy.
buzz along
in. to depart.Well, I must buzz along.It's time to buzz along to work now.
clear out
in. to leave; to depart.Time for you people to clear out. It's past midnight.The boss gave me till next week to clear out. I'm fired—canned.
cruise
in. to move on; to leave.Listen, I gotta cruise.Time to cruise. Monty Python's on in ten minutes.
cut out
in. to leave; to run away.It's late. I think I'll cut out.Don't cut out now. The night is young.
do a fade
tr. to leave; to sneak away.Max did a fade when he saw the pigmobile.It's time for me to do a fade.
dust
in. to leave; to depart.Well, it's late. I gotta dust.They dusted out of there at about midnight.
fade
in. to leave.I think that the time has come for me to fade. See ya.Hey, man, let's fade.
fall out
in. to depart. (Probably from the military command meaning “disperse.”)It's late, G. I have to fall out.Let's fall out. I have to get up early in the morning.
Get lost!
exclam. “Go away!”; “Beat it!”Get lost, you're bothering me!Quit following me. Get lost!
get out of Dodge
in. to leave a place. (Refers to Dodge City, Kansas, and a catchphrase from Western adventures about this town.)Come on, G. Let's get out of Dodge.Things are looking bad here. It's time to get out of Dodge.
Get out of town!
exclam. “Beat it!”; “Get out of here!”Go away, you bother me! Get out of town!You'd better get out of town, my friend. You are a pest.
get (out) while the gettin(g)'s good and get (out) while the goin's good
phr. to leave while it is still safe or possible to do so.I could tell that it was time for me to get while the gettin's good.I told her she should get out while the goin's good.
Go chase yourself! and Go chase your tail!; Go climb a tree!; Go fly a kite!; Go fry an egg!; Go jump in the lake!; Go soak your head!; Go soak yourself!
exclam. “Beat it!”; “Go away!”Oh, go chase yourself! Get out of my face!Go soak your head! You're a pain in the neck.
hit the road
tr. to leave; to begin to travel on a road.We plan to hit the road about dawn.Let's hit the road. We have a long way to go.
hit the trail
tr. to leave. (As if one were riding a horse.)I have to hit the trail before sunset.Let's hit the trail. It's late.
I've got to fly. and I('ve) gotta fly.
sent. “I have to leave right now.”Time's up. I've got to fly.I've gotta fly. See you later.
I've got to split.
sent. “I have to leave now.”See you later. I've got to split.I've got to split. Call my service.
jam
in. to depart.It's time to jam. Let's go.I gotta jam, Tom. See ya.
jet
in. to leave a place rapidly; to go somewhere fast.I will jet to Tom's house and show him these pictures.Let's jet. It's late.
Let's bump this place!
tr. “Let's get out of this place!”; “Let's leave!”Time to go. Let's bump this place!Let's bump this place! It's dead here.
Let's dump.
interj. “Let's go.”It's late. Let's dump.Let's dump. I've still got a lot to do at home tonight.
make like a tree and leave
phr. to leave; to depart. (A pun on the leaf of a tree.)I have to leave now. It's time to make like a tree and leave.Hey, Jane. Don't you have an appointment somewhere? Why don't you make like a tree and leave?
make oneself scarce
tr. to leave; to be in a place less frequently.Here come the boys in blue. I'd better make myself scarce.I suggest that you make yourself scarce before she returns.
make tracks
tr. to move out of a place fast.I gotta make tracks home now.Let's make tracks. We gotta hit Adamsville before noon.
motor
in. to depart.Well, let's motor, you guys. It's getting late.I've got to motor. It's a long walk home.
On your bike! and Go to your room!
imperative. “Get out of here!”; “Get on your motorcycle and get out!”What a bad joke! No puns allowed here! On your bike!That was a ridiculous remark. Go to your room!
pop off
in. to leave; to depart in haste.Bye, I must pop off.Got to pop off. I'm late.
push off and shove off
in. to leave. (As if one were pushing away from a dock.)Well, it looks like it's time to push off.It's time to go. Let's shove off.
roll
in. to leave, perhaps in a car.I can't wait around any longer. Let's roll.We have to roll now. It's late.
scat
in. to leave.It's midnight. I gotta scat.You guys scat now. I have to go to work.
shag (off )
in. to depart.I gotta shag. It's late.Go on! Shag off!I gotta shag. Somebody's calling my name.
skedaddle
in. to get out; to leave in a hurry. (Folksy.)Go on, skedaddle! Out!Well, I'd better skedaddle on home.
skip (out)
in. to leave; to run away without doing something, such as paying a bill.The guy skipped when I wasn't looking.Fred skipped out, leaving me with the bill.
sko and sgo
phr. “Let's go.” (Now considered current slang even though it has been informal colloquial for decades.)Sko. We're going to be late.It's time to hit the road. Sgo.
smack the road
tr. to leave; to depart.Time to smack the road! Sgo!Let's smack the road. I have to get up early.
split
in. to leave.Look at the clock. Time to split.Let's split. We're late.
take a hike and take a walk
tr. to leave; to beat it.Okay, I've had it with you. Take a hike! Beat it!I had enough of the boss and the whole place, so I cleaned out my desk and took a walk.
take a powder
tr. to leave; to leave town. (Underworld.)Why don't you take a powder? Go on! Beat it!Bruno took a powder and will lie low for a while.
Take a running jump (in the lake)!
exclam. “Go away!”; “Get away from me!”You know what you can do? You can take a running jump. Beat it!You can just take a running jump in the lake, you creep!
take it on the lam
tr. to get out of town; to run away. (Underworld.)Both took it on the lam when things got hot.Bruno knew that the time had come to take it on the lam.
take off
in. [for someone] to leave in a hurry.She really took off outa there.I've got to take off—I'm late.
tear off
in. to break away; to run away.I hate to tear off, but I'm late.Don't tear off without having some of my pie.
time to cruise
n. “Time to leave.”See ya. It's time to cruise.Time to cruise. We're gone.
toddle off
in. to depart; to walk away.She said good-bye and toddled off.The old man toddled off somewhere and got lost.
tootle along
in. to depart.I think I'd better tootle along now.Nice talking to you. Must tootle along.
trip
in. to leave.I gotta trip, man.Time to trip. See ya.
turn tail (and run)
tr. to flee; to run away in fright.I couldn't just turn tail and run, but I wasn't going to fight that monster either.Sometimes turning tail is the only sensible thing to do.
up stakes
tr. to prepare for leaving and then leave. (Up has the force of a verb here. The phrase suggests pulling up tent stakes in preparation for departure.)They just upped stakes and left without saying good-bye.It's that time of the year when I feel like upping stakes and moving to the country.
Vamoose!
exclam. “Beat it!”; “Go away!” (From Spanish.)Go on, beat it! Vamoose!Vamoose! Go home!
zoom and zoom off
in. to depart; to leave in a hurry.Time's up. I've gotta zoom.Oh, you don't have to zoom off, do you?