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Glite Dictionary
to take to the woods

to take to the woods

1 8.6
Run quickly into the woods to escape danger
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
: huir
  • Seeing the approaching danger, the hiker quickly took to the woods for safety.

Examples

  • The children took to the woods as soon as they heard the loud noise coming from the road.

  • the troublemakers took to the woods to the hut of a witch

    Exit Humanity (2011)

  • Even here, in rural Vermont, there are folks who hate the fact that every fall, men, women, and children of all colors and backgrounds take to the woods to hunt wild game.

    Blog text (15)

  • When the storm approached, the animals took to the woods to find shelter.

Synonyms

to run
vsto take to the woods
∞ 1.0

To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind

in this sense stresses sudden escape rather than general fast movement
to escape
vsto take to the woods
∞ 1.0

To get away from a place where you are kept or are in danger

is narrower here meaning sudden hurried flight rather than general withdrawal
to run away
vsto take to the woods
907 1.6

To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control

often stresses escaping from danger more than mere quick leaving
to flee
vsto take to the woods
583 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

adds the sense of urgent escape rather than general fast departure
to take off
vsto take to the woods
549 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

is focused on fleeing quickly rather than normal planned departure
to run out
vsto take to the woods
361 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is focused on escape urgency rather than casual short absence
to run off
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
353 3.7

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

is about fleeing quickly but not necessarily secretly or with theft
to take a hike
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
36 8.1

Tell someone to leave in a rude way

is about fleeing in hurry rather than being told to go away
to make a run for it
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
35 5.3

To try to escape quickly, often by running

describes urgent flight in general not only risky attempts
to break away
vsto take to the woods
27 3.6

To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group

is about fleeing quickly from danger rather than breaking free of control
to fled the scene
vsto take to the woods
25 4.4

Leave a place quickly to avoid being caught after causing or seeing trouble

is more general not restricted to avoiding capture after incidents
to rush off
vsto take to the woods
24 3.8

Leave suddenly because you are in a hurry

is focused on quick escape rather than simply abrupt departure
to take flight
vsto take to the woods
23 3.5

Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying

is similar but can also mean leaving quickly without danger connotation
to skedaddle
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
20 9.3

To run away quickly because you are afraid

is similar but the key covers any hurried escape not only panic
to hightail
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
18 8.3

To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble

is about running off quickly rather than slow or planned leaving
to get out of Dodge
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
18 9.2

Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

matches quick escape but is not limited to danger or trouble cases
to hightail it
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
17 8.4

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

is about sudden flight for safety rather than ordinary departure
to run for the hills
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
10 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

is broader covering any sudden hurried escape not only danger
to scat
vsto take to the woods
  • Archaic
8 9.1

Leave quickly, often because you are scared

is similar but the key covers any hurried escape regardless of register
to bolt out
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
7 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

focuses on escaping quickly not just leaving hurriedly
to turn tail
vsto take to the woods
7 7.0

To run away quickly because you are afraid

is about fleeing hurriedly without implying cowardice or defeat
to bolt from
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
7 5.8

To leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly

emphasizes fleeing because of danger rather than mere surprise
to make tracks
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
6 7.2

Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble

is used for fleeing fast rather than ordinary leaving
to head for the hills
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
5 7.8

To run away quickly to escape danger

is similar but also applies to any sudden hurried departure
to rush away
vsto take to the woods
4 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is more about escaping danger rather than just being in a hurry
to fly the coop
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
4 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

focuses on fleeing confinement rather than general hurried departure
to beat a retreat
vsto take to the woods
3 6.0

To leave a place quickly to avoid danger or trouble

is used for quick withdrawal from a position rather than simple escape
to run a mile
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
2 7.1

Move away quickly to avoid something you are afraid of

focuses more on sudden flight rather than long avoidance from dislike
to scarper
vsto take to the woods
  • UK
1 9.7

To run away quickly to avoid trouble

is broader applying to general sudden leaving as well as escape
to lam
vsto take to the woods
  • Slang
1 9.9

To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police

is a general hurried escape not necessarily tied to avoiding capture
to bolt down
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
1 6.1

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is used for urgent escape rather than calm departure
to make a bolt
vsto take to the woods
1 6.8

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is more about fleeing hurriedly to escape danger or trouble
to do the dash
vsto take to the woods
  • UK
1 9.3

To run away quickly to avoid being caught

is similar but the key applies broadly to urgent escapes in many contexts
to run for one's life
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
1 3.9

Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt

is less extreme covering quick escapes not only life threats
to take to one's heels
vsto take to the woods
  • Informal
6.1

Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble

matches urgency but focuses on fleeing on foot rather than general leave
to go offski
vsto take to the woods
  • Slang
9.9

To leave a place suddenly, usually to go somewhere else

is about escaping quickly from danger rather than eager departure

Antonyms

to confront
285 4.4

Face a difficult problem or fear directly and bravely

to stay put
  • Informal
126 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

How Fast

to take to the woods
  • Informal
1 8.6
to bolt
78 2.3
to run away
907 1.6
to leave
∞ 1.0
to walk away
876 3.5

Surface Forms

take to the woods infinitive
taking to the woods present participle
takes to the woods third person singular
took to the woods past
taken to the woods past participle

Morphology

take + to + the + woods

The phrase is largely compositional: a learner who knows 'take' and 'woods' can infer movement into the woods, so they can plausibly deduce a meaning involving going to or retreating into the woods. However, the specific idiomatic nuance of 'fleeing' or 'running away suddenly/to hide' (rather than merely 'going') is a conventionalized sense that may not be fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Take to the woods likely comes from the clear image of someone quickly taking themselves to the woods to hide or find safety when danger appears. That's why it now means 'to flee or run away'.