Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to high-tail

to high-tail

5 8.0
To leave a place very quickly to avoid danger or trouble
  • phrasal verb
  • /haɪ-teɪl/
  • Informal
translation icon : salir corriendo
  • Realizing they had been spotted, the group quickly high-tailed it into the woods.
  • Then we high-tailed
  • high-tailed it back
  • So, I high-tailed

Examples

  • So we get to the car and high-tail it out of town.

    Blog text (24)

  • So, I high-tailed it out of there.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Well .. we'll just high-tail it back here as quickly as possible.

    The Land That Time Forgot (2009)

  • So I said okay and high-tailed it.

    Blog text (14)

  • I let off a couple shots, and we high-tailed it.

    The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)

  • I'd high-tail it for town if I were you!

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Next, she high-tails it to the Maine coast.

    Blog text (16)

  • Sonny turned and high-tailed it into the house.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Well, I guess our best chance is to high-tail it to Fort Sumner.

    The Outlaw (1943)

  • Completely disillusioned, we canceled the last two days of our hotel reservation and high-tailed it to Singapore.

    Blog text (27)

Synonyms

to flee
vsto high-tail
331 2.4

To run away from a place because it is dangerous

emphasizes retreat quickly specifically to avoid trouble or danger
to run out
vsto high-tail
78 2.0

Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something

is similar but stresses retreat to avoid danger rather than any sudden exit
to dash
vsto high-tail
73 1.0

To move very quickly to reach a place

is about retreat to avoid trouble rather than merely fast movement
to bolt
vsto high-tail
69 2.3

To run away suddenly to escape danger

is fast too but usually means a rapid retreat rather than burst
to make a run for it
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
36 5.3

To try to escape quickly, often by running

is similar but often used for trying to flee in risky moments
to hightail
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
18 8.3

To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble

is identical in meaning but written with a hyphen
to hightail it
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
16 8.4

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

means the same but adds a casual extra particle
to skedaddle
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
14 9.3

To run away quickly because you are afraid

is the same escape idea but less emotional than sudden panic
to retreat from
vsto high-tail
13 4.4

To move back from a place or activity to avoid danger and trouble

is a quicker, more sudden move to escape danger
to fled the scene
vsto high-tail
11 4.4

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

is the same fast exit but not limited to avoiding legal capture
to rush out
vsto high-tail
9 3.3

To run out quickly from a hiding place to surprise someone

is about fleeing to avoid danger rather than bursting out to act
to turn tail
vsto high-tail
7 7.0

To run away quickly because you are afraid

is similar but less focused on cowardice or immediate fear
to run for the hills
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
7 5.6

To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble

is more general escape, not necessarily toward a distant safe place
to get out of Dodge
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
7 9.2

Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger

expresses the same escape but in neutral language rather than that idiom
to bolt out
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
5 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

is more about fleeing quickly to avoid danger rather than mere exit
to run out of town
vsto high-tail
5 6.6

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

is about escaping danger generally rather than leaving due to shame
to make tracks
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
5 7.2

Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble

focuses on escape from danger rather than mere haste
to head for the hills
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
4 7.8

To run away quickly to escape danger

is similar but less specific about moving toward a distant safe place
to bug-out
vsto high-tail
  • Slang
3 8.2

To leave a place quickly to escape danger

is used more for sudden retreat in general situations rather than emergencies only
to rush away
vsto high-tail
2 2.5

Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry

focuses on escape from danger rather than simple haste
to blow town
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
2 9.8

To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble

is similar but not limited to leaving an entire town
to beat feet
vsto high-tail
  • Slang
2 9.0

To leave quickly to escape or avoid something

implies escaping danger rather than just hurrying on foot
to scarper
vsto high-tail
  • UK
1 9.7

To run away quickly to avoid trouble

is swift too but not necessarily secretive
to beat a retreat
vsto high-tail
1 6.0

To leave a place quickly to avoid danger or trouble

is used in ordinary speech for quick escape rather than formal withdrawal
to take to one's heels
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
1 6.1

Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble

is similar but more general for quick retreat rather than only running
to pelt down
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
1 7.2

To run or move very quickly without control

implies hurried retreat to avoid danger rather than uncontrolled motion
to show a clean pair of heels
vsto high-tail
  • UK
8.3

Run away quickly to avoid danger or trouble

is similar but focuses on general rapid retreat rather than leaving others
to absquatulate
vsto high-tail
  • Archaic
9.9

To leave a place quickly and secretly, often taking things or someone

is a quick escape too but usually without secret theft or baggage
to skiddoo
vsto high-tail
  • Archaic
9.9

To leave quickly to escape trouble

is the same quick escape idea but in more general terms
to skidoo
vsto high-tail
  • Archaic
9.1

To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention

is similar but covers general quick retreat, not only sneaky exits
to do the dash
vsto high-tail
  • UK
9.3

To run away quickly to avoid being caught

is broader, used for rapid retreats in many contexts not only this slang
to bolt down
vsto high-tail
  • Informal
6.1

To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid

is similar but more focused on retreat to avoid threat rather than panic
to lam
vsto high-tail
  • Slang
9.9

To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police

is the same fast escape but not necessarily to avoid legal arrest

Antonyms

to stay put
  • Informal
133 2.0

Remain in the same place without moving

How Fast

to high-tail
  • Informal
5 8.0
to run away
550 1.6
to leave
∞ 1.0
to linger
207 3.7

Surface Forms

high-tail infinitive
high-tailed past
high-tailed past participle
high-tailing present participle
high-tails third person singular

Morphology

high-tail = high + tail (semi-transparent) = high + tail

Formed by compounding 'high' + 'tail' into a verb, but the idiomatic sense 'leave quickly' is not directly predictable from the literal meanings of the components.

Etymology

High-tail breaks into high ('up') and tail (an animal's tail), and it gives the picture of a frightened animal lifting its tail and running off. A helpful way to remember it is 'to leave quickly', so to high-tail it is to get away fast to avoid trouble.