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to get out of Dodge

to get out of Dodge

7 9.2
Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : largarse
  • I'm gonna get out of Dodge.
  • time to get out of Dodge

Examples

  • When the storm was approaching, we packed our things and got out of Dodge.

  • - I've got to get out of Dodge, as they say.

  • I guess it's time for me to "Get out of Dodge."

    Blog text (25)
  • If things go bad in a hurry, be prepared to leave everything behind and get out of Dodge.

    Blog text (8)
  • Let's get out of Dodge.

  • Get out of Dodge now.

    Blog text (26)
  • Let's find us some wheels and get out of Dodge.

  • It was like a sign telling me to get out of Dodge.

  • If you're told to evacuate and it's still safe to do so, get out of Dodge.

    Blog text (10)
  • I heard sirens nearby, so I decided to get out of Dodge quickly.

Synonyms

to get out
vsto get out of Dodge
1.0

Leave a place or situation

is narrower, stressing leaving fast to avoid trouble or danger
to get out of here
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
3.0

Leave a place quickly or suddenly

is used when departure aims to avoid danger or trouble
to flee
vsto get out of Dodge
331 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

is the broader idiomatic phrase for leaving quickly to avoid trouble
to take off
vsto get out of Dodge
273 3.2

To leave a place quickly, often to travel somewhere else

is used when departure is for safety or to avoid trouble
to run off
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
260 3.7

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

is used for quick leaving aimed at avoiding trouble or danger
to bail
vsto get out of Dodge
  • UK
247 7.1

Leave suddenly to avoid a responsibility or task

is more about leaving to escape danger rather than shirking duty
outta here
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
156 9.9

To leave a place quickly, often suddenly

is used for rapid departure specifically to escape danger
to skip
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
147 3.7

To leave a place quickly and secretly to avoid trouble

is the idiomatic phrase for quick escape from danger
to run out
vsto get out of Dodge
78 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is the common expression for leaving fast to avoid danger
to bolt
vsto get out of Dodge
69 2.3

To run away suddenly to escape danger

is the idiomatic way to say depart quickly to avoid trouble
to make a run for it
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
36 5.3

To try to escape quickly, often by running

is the ordinary phrase for leaving quickly to avoid danger
to rush off
vsto get out of Dodge
20 3.8

Leave suddenly because you are in a hurry

is focused on quick escape from trouble rather than simple haste
to hightail it
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
16 8.4

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

is the same urgent escape idea used informally
to duck out
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
12 7.2

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

is about leaving fast to avoid danger rather than secret avoidance
to fly the coop
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
12 7.9

To leave a place suddenly without permission

is used for quick escape from danger rather than simple absence
to fled the scene
vsto get out of Dodge
11 4.4

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

is the general idea of leaving fast to avoid trouble
to hop out
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
11 2.8

To get out of a vehicle or place quickly with a small jump

is the broader escape idea rather than only a quick exit from vehicles
to run for the hills
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
7 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

is used for quick departure aimed at avoiding danger
to hop off
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
6 3.1

Get off a bus or leave a call quickly

is used for leaving fast to escape danger rather than just exiting
to bolt from
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
5 5.8

To leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly

is the broader phrase for quick escape to avoid danger
to bolt out
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
5 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

is focused on hurried departure to escape danger or trouble
to run out of town
vsto get out of Dodge
5 6.6

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

is more general, meaning leave fast to avoid danger or trouble
to make tracks
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
5 7.2

Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble

is similar but stresses escape from danger rather than mere haste
to high-tail
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
5 8.0

To leave a place very quickly to avoid danger or trouble

is the common phrase for leaving fast to escape danger
to head for the hills
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
4 7.8

To run away quickly to escape danger

is the same idea of rapid departure to avoid danger
to bug-out
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Slang
3 8.2

To leave a place quickly to escape danger

is the informal phrase for leaving fast to avoid danger
to vamoose
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
3 8.8

To leave quickly to avoid trouble or questions

is focused on leaving quickly to avoid trouble or danger
to blow town
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
2 9.8

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble

is the general quick escape idea rather than a literal trip away
to rush away
vsto get out of Dodge
2 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

is more about escaping danger than merely being in a hurry
to evac
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Jargon
1 8.1

To leave a place quickly to be safe

is the same urgent escape idea but in everyday speech
to beat a retreat
vsto get out of Dodge
1 6.0

To leave a place quickly to avoid danger or trouble

is used for quick departure specifically to escape danger
to take to one's heels
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
1 6.1

Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble

is a general way to say leave fast to avoid danger
to pop off
vsto get out of Dodge
  • UK
1 7.9

To leave a place quickly, often without saying goodbye

is the idiomatic phrase for urgent departure to avoid danger
to make a bolt
vsto get out of Dodge
6.8

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is focused on leaving fast to avoid trouble or danger
to show a clean pair of heels
vsto get out of Dodge
  • UK
8.3

Run away quickly to avoid danger or trouble

is a vivid way to describe quick departure from danger
to skiddoo
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Archaic
9.9

To leave quickly to escape trouble

is an informal expression for escaping danger or trouble quickly
to skidoo
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Archaic
9.1

To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention

is the same sudden departure idea with casual tone
to do the dash
vsto get out of Dodge
  • UK
9.3

To run away quickly to avoid being caught

is a casual way to describe leaving fast to avoid danger
to take your hook
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Archaic
9.9

Leave a place quickly because you are not welcome

is focused on urgent departure to avoid danger or trouble
to bolt down
vsto get out of Dodge
  • Informal
6.1

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is the everyday phrase for quick escape from danger

Antonyms

207 3.7

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

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

How Fast

to flee
331 2.4
to make a run for it
  • Informal
36 5.3
to get out of Dodge
  • Informal
7 9.2
to rush away
2 2.5
to leave
1.0

Surface Forms

get out of Dodge infinitive
getting out of Dodge present participle
gets out of Dodge third person singular
got out of Dodge past participle

Morphology

get + out + of + Dodge

Although 'get out of' literally signals leaving, the final element 'Dodge' is a culture-specific place name (Dodge City) and the sense 'leave quickly to avoid trouble' arises from an idiomatic, historical/pop-cultural reference rather than normal compositional meaning. A B1 learner who knows the individual words would not reliably infer the idiomatic sense, so the phrase is unpredictable and language-/culture-specific.

Etymology

The idiom get out of Dodge comes from the old western town of Dodge, where fights and danger were common and people often hurried away to stay safe. That's why today it means 'to leave a place quickly, especially to avoid trouble or danger'.