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Glite Dictionary
to fly the coop

to fly the coop

12 7.9
To leave a place suddenly without permission
  • idiom
  • /flaɪ ðə kuːp/
  • Informal
translation icon : largarse
  • After months of feeling trapped, she finally decided to fly the coop and start a new life.
  • Yeah, he flew the coop
  • flew the coop, leaving

Do you think at some point it's wise though, to to fly the coop?

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Examples

Synonyms

to run
vsto fly the coop
∞ 1.0

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

is the same sudden departure but normally implies escaping when forbidden to leave
to get out
vsto fly the coop
∞ 1.0

Leave a place or situation

is specifically a sudden escape from a place one was required to stay
to get out of here
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
∞ 3.0

Leave a place quickly or suddenly

is used particularly for escaping from where one was expected to remain
to escape
vsto fly the coop
∞ 1.0

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

is specifically a sudden leaving from a place one should remain
to run away
vsto fly the coop
550 1.6

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

is a sudden exit from where one was expected to stay
to fly
vsto fly the coop
333 1.8

Pass very quickly, often used for time

is the idiomatic sudden escape specifically from a place one should remain
to flee
vsto fly the coop
331 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

is about leaving quickly when one should have stayed
to take off
vsto fly the coop
273 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

is used for leaving suddenly from where staying was expected
to run off
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
260 3.7

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

is often used for escaping a place one was meant to stay
to bail
vsto fly the coop
  • UK
247 7.1

Leave suddenly to avoid a responsibility or task

is more about escaping from a place where one was supposed to remain
to get away
vsto fly the coop
165 3.0

To escape from people who are holding you, often by force

is more about leaving quickly from a place one should remain
to skip
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
147 3.7

To leave a place quickly and secretly to avoid trouble

is used for quick escapes from places one had to stay
to walk out
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
112 3.4

Leave a place suddenly because you are angry or protesting

is a quick escape but usually without the protest motive
to run out
vsto fly the coop
78 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is focused on leaving specifically from where remaining was expected
to break out
vsto fly the coop
51 3.6

To get free quickly from a place or situation, often from captivity

is similar but typically refers to leaving where one was supposed to stay
to up and leave
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
41 6.3

Go away suddenly without warning or explanation

is specifically an escape from where one was expected to remain
to make a run for it
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
36 5.3

To try to escape quickly, often by running

is similar but emphasizes leaving a place one must remain in
to skip town
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
28 8.1

Leave a place suddenly and secretly to avoid trouble or debt

is a sudden exit often from where remaining was expected
to hightail it
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
16 8.4

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

is specifically escaping from a place one is supposed to stay
to push off
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
14 6.8

Leave a place or start a journey

is more specifically an escape from a place one should have stayed
to duck out
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
12 7.2

To leave a place quickly and quietly to avoid something you should do

is more about escaping where remaining was required, not just avoiding duties
to take flight
vsto fly the coop
11 3.5

Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying

is focused on leaving suddenly from where one was supposed to stay
to fled the scene
vsto fly the coop
11 4.4

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

is similar but covers any sudden leaving from required location
to turn tail
vsto fly the coop
7 7.0

To run away quickly because you are afraid

is about leaving suddenly from where one should have stayed, not only from fear
to run for the hills
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
7 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

is similar but stresses leaving a place where one should remain
to get out of Dodge
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
7 9.2

Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

is similar but often implies leaving a place where one should stay
to bolt out
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
5 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

is more about escaping from an obligation or place one must stay
to bolt from
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
5 5.8

To leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly

is the same sudden exit but often implies leaving where staying was required
to run out of town
vsto fly the coop
5 6.6

Leave a place quickly because people are angry or you are in trouble

is a sudden exit from a place where leaving was not expected
to make tracks
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
5 7.2

Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble

is a quick escape specifically from a place one should remain
to break away
vsto fly the coop
5 3.6

To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group

is more about escaping from a place where one was expected to remain
to head for the hills
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
4 7.8

To run away quickly to escape danger

is used for sudden escapes from places one ought to stay
to bug-out
vsto fly the coop
  • Slang
3 8.2

To leave a place quickly to escape danger

is similar but stresses leaving a place one should have stayed in
to rush away
vsto fly the coop
2 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is more about escaping where staying was required rather than mere haste
to bunk
vsto fly the coop
  • UK
2 9.6

To leave without paying, often on a bus or train

is the same sudden leaving but generally from a place one must stay
to blow town
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
2 9.8

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble

is similar but emphasizes leaving from a place one had to remain
to evac
vsto fly the coop
  • Jargon
1 8.1

To leave a place quickly to be safe

is broader, often used for escaping where one was expected to remain
to blow this popsicle stand
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
1 9.9

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

is instead often an escape from a place where staying was required
to scat
vsto fly the coop
  • Archaic
1 9.1

Leave quickly, often because you are scared

is focused on escaping from a location where one was supposed to stay
to scarper
vsto fly the coop
  • UK
1 9.7

To run away quickly to avoid trouble

is often a sudden exit from where one should remain
to pop off
vsto fly the coop
  • UK
1 7.9

To leave a place quickly, often without saying goodbye

is used for escaping from a place one was expected to remain
to make a bolt
vsto fly the coop
6.8

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is usually an escape from where one was expected to stay
to take your hook
vsto fly the coop
  • Archaic
9.9

Leave a place quickly because you are not welcome

is more tied to escaping from a place one should remain
to skidoo
vsto fly the coop
  • Archaic
9.1

To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention

is more about escaping from a place where one should have stayed in
to go offski
vsto fly the coop
  • Slang
9.9

To leave a place suddenly, usually to go somewhere else

is used more for sudden escape from a place one ought to remain
to lam
vsto fly the coop
  • Slang
9.9

To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police

is broader, applying to sudden departures from places one must remain
to take to the woods
vsto fly the coop
  • Informal
8.6

Run quickly into the woods to escape danger

is similar but emphasizes leaving a place where one must not stay

Antonyms

to remain
∞ 1.0

To stay in the same place or state and not change

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

Surface Forms

fly the coop infinitive
flying the coop present participle
flies the coop third person singular
flew the coop past
flown the coop past participle

Morphology

fly + the + coop

The literal meanings of 'fly' (leave quickly) and 'coop' (a bird enclosure) create a clear image of a bird leaving its enclosure, so a learner who knows the constituents can plausibly infer a sense of leaving or escaping. However, the phrase is metaphorical and extended to human contexts with idiomatic nuance, so the exact generalization (sudden escape/abrupt departure) may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Fly the coop comes from the image of a bird leaving its pen: to fly out of a coop, a small pen for chickens, and get away. So when someone flies the coop, they 'escape' or 'leave suddenly'.