Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
off like a dirty shirt

off like a dirty shirt

1 9.9
Leave a place very quickly
  • idiom
  • Archaic
: salir disparado
  • I'm off like a dirty shirt.

Examples

  • I'm off like a dirty shirt.

    Pretty in Pink (1986)

  • After the meeting ended, he was off like a dirty shirt, eager to enjoy his weekend.

  • As soon as the bell rang, the students were off like a dirty shirt, rushing out of the classroom.

  • When she realized the time, she was off like a dirty shirt, hurrying to catch her train.

Synonyms

to get out of here
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
∞ 3.0

Leave a place quickly or suddenly

is even more abrupt and immediate without delay
to take off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
549 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

is abrupt departure that stresses speed rather than travel
to run out
vsoff like a dirty shirt
361 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is abrupt leaving without implying avoidance
to run off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
353 3.7

To leave a place or person suddenly, often without saying goodbye

is sudden departure but not necessarily secretive or escaping
to walk off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
106 3.5

To leave a place suddenly to show you are angry or upset

is abrupt leaving but without the clear display of annoyance
to blow
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
59 8.4

To leave a place quickly or suddenly

is similar but emphasises suddenness without informal tone
to up and leave
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
42 6.3

Go away suddenly without warning or explanation

is abrupt leaving that also carries casual colloquial style
to rush off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
24 3.8

Leave suddenly because you are in a hurry

is sudden departure that may be neutral rather than urgent panic
to make off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
23 6.4

To run away quickly after stealing or committing a crime

is sudden leaving without implying wrongdoing or escape
to shove off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
17 7.7

Leave a place quickly, often in a rude way

is sudden leaving without the clear dismissive attitude
to push off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
17 6.8

Leave a place or start a journey

is abrupt departure that stresses immediacy rather than casualness
to storm off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
14 4.5

Leave a place quickly because you are angry

is abrupt departure that does not require emotional anger
to hop off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
13 3.1

Get off a bus or leave a call quickly

is abrupt leaving that does not focus on exiting vehicles
to peel off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
10 4.1

To leave a group and move away in a different direction

is sudden departure but not specifically about separating from a group
to bolt out
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
7 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

is abrupt leaving without implying fear or surprise
to vamoose
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
7 8.8

To leave quickly to avoid trouble or questions

is the same abrupt leaving but without its colloquial playfulness
to pop off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • UK
6 7.9

To leave a place quickly, often without saying goodbye

is abrupt departure that does not imply casualness
to rush away
vsoff like a dirty shirt
4 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is a very abrupt departure without extra reason or emotion
to roar off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
2 6.3

To move away fast while making a very loud noise

is abrupt leaving that does not necessarily involve loud noise
to blow this popsicle stand
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Informal
2 9.9

To leave a place quickly because you do not want to be there

is abrupt departure but not necessarily from dislike or boredom
to duck off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To leave quickly and quietly or tell someone rudely to go away

is abrupt leaving without the discreet or rude social tone
to skidoo
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Archaic
1 9.1

To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention

is abrupt leaving without the avoidance or evasion motive
to beetle off
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • UK
1 9.8

To leave quickly and quietly without being noticed

is abrupt departure but not necessarily discreet
to go offski
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • Slang
9.9

To leave a place suddenly, usually to go somewhere else

is sudden leaving without the eager or playful tone
to cut his stick
vsoff like a dirty shirt
  • UK
9.9

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid trouble

is sudden leaving but not specialised to activity withdrawal

Antonyms

to remain
∞ 1.0

To stay in the same place or state and not change

to linger
215 3.7

To stay in a place longer than expected because you do not want to leave

How Quickly

to bolt
78 2.3
off like a dirty shirt
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to take off
549 3.2
to leave
∞ 1.0
to walk away
876 3.5

Surface Forms

off like a dirty shirt main

Morphology

off + like + a + dirty + shirt

The particle 'off' clearly signals leaving, and the simile 'like a dirty shirt' invokes the idea of removing something unpleasant quickly; a learner who knows the words can plausibly infer 'departing suddenly' but must make a pragmatic/cultural inference about why a dirty shirt would be taken off fast. Because the meaning is derivable with some reasoning rather than being fully literal or entirely idiomatic, it is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Off like a dirty shirt may come from the image of someone quickly pulling off a really dirty shirt in a hurry to get away or feel clean. So, because the shirt is taken off fast, the phrase means 'leaving very fast'.