to head for the hills
4
7.8
- idiom
- Informal
:
salir corriendo
- Take whatever you can carry and head for the hills.
- head for the hills," said
And unless you have good backers, you know, there are all sorts of reasons to head for the hills.
- And unless you have good backers, you know, there are all sorts of reasons to head for the hills.
Examples
-
"The food's fantastic," Gretel tells Jill, who rolls her eyes and looks like she'd like to head for the hills.
Fiction book (1996) -
I know what you're thinking: Head for the hills, tenderfoot.
Fiction book (1995) -
Any ideas? - Yeah, head for the hills.
-
Everybody, head for the hills!
-
Sure, we need to make a stand on what is right, but when it gets dangerous... head for the hills!
Blog text (32) -
Head for the hills, I always say.
-
It was time to head for the hills.
Blog text (32) -
Let's head for the hills, we'll lose them in the canyons.
-
Pack a few apples, maybe some Pirate's Booty, and head for the hills.
Blog text (17) -
When the storm started brewing, we decided to head for the hills to find safety.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind
∞
3.0
Leave a place quickly or suddenly
∞
1.0
To get away from a place where you are kept or are in danger
550
1.6
To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control
331
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
78
2.0
Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something
36
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
25
3.9
Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt
18
8.3
To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble
16
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
14
9.3
To run away quickly because you are afraid
13
4.4
To move back from a place or activity to avoid danger and trouble
12
7.9
To leave a place suddenly without permission
11
3.5
Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying
11
4.4
Leave a place quickly to avoid being caught after causing or seeing trouble
7
7.0
To run away quickly because you are afraid
7
5.6
To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble
7
9.2
Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
5
5.8
To leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly
5
4.9
Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared
5
6.6
Leave a place quickly because people are angry or you are in trouble
5
8.0
To leave a place very quickly to avoid danger or trouble
5
3.6
To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group
5
7.2
Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble
3
8.2
To leave a place quickly to escape danger
2
9.8
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble
2
9.6
To leave without paying, often on a bus or train
2
2.5
Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry
2
9.0
To leave quickly to escape or avoid something
1
9.1
Leave quickly, often because you are scared
1
9.7
To run away quickly to avoid trouble
1
6.1
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
1
6.0
To leave a place quickly to avoid danger or trouble
Run quickly into the woods to escape danger
To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police
To run away quickly to avoid being caught
Escape everyday problems and stress by leaving for a while
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
Antonyms
How Quickly
- Informal
4
7.8
331
2.4
550
1.6
∞
1.0
176
1.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal components 'head' (move toward) + 'for the hills' yield a clear sense of going toward the hills, so a B1 learner would likely infer a directional meaning. However, the conventionalized sense of urgent flight or escaping danger is an added pragmatic/idiomatic nuance that is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so the expression is partially but not fully transparent.
Etymology
Head for the hills comes from a simple picture: when danger came, people would head up to the hills to find higher, safer ground. So today head for the hills means 'to leave quickly to escape danger or trouble'.