to run for the hills
7
5.6
- idiom
- Informal
:
salir corriendo
- Markets down two days in a row—oh my goodness, run for the hills!
They're all just running for the hills and don't know what they want.
- They're all just running for the hills and don't know what they want.
- There's a whole lot of people who will run for the hills when things get tough.
Examples
-
When the alarm went off, everyone began to run for the hills to escape the impending danger.
-
Run for the hills.
Blog text (17) -
When they open the doors, we run for the hills.
-
Damn, everyone, run for the hills!
-
Nine times out of ten, my answer causes them to run for the hills.
Blog text (27) -
There's a whole lot of people who will run for the hills when things get tough.
-
Won't they take one look at me and run for the hills?
-
Run for the hills!
Blog text (28) -
During the storm warning, we all decided to run for the hills to avoid the floods.
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Sightseeing went out of the window when the fire alarm sounded, prompting us to run for the hills.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To get away from a place where you are kept or are in danger
550
1.6
To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control
331
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
78
2.0
Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something
69
2.3
To run away suddenly to escape danger
36
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
25
3.9
Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt
18
8.3
To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble
16
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
14
9.3
To run away quickly because you are afraid
12
7.9
To leave a place suddenly without permission
11
3.5
Leave quickly to escape danger, often by flying
7
7.0
To run away quickly because you are afraid
7
9.2
Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
5
5.8
To leave a place suddenly and unexpectedly
5
4.9
Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared
5
6.6
Leave a place quickly because people are angry or you are in trouble
5
7.2
Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble
5
8.0
To leave a place very quickly to avoid danger or trouble
4
7.8
To run away quickly to escape danger
2
9.8
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble
2
2.5
Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry
2
9.0
To leave quickly to escape or avoid something
1
9.0
Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast
1
9.7
To run away quickly to avoid trouble
1
6.1
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
1
7.1
Move away quickly to avoid something you are afraid of
1
6.0
To leave a place quickly to avoid danger or trouble
Run quickly into the woods to escape danger
To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention
Run away quickly to avoid danger or trouble
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
To run away quickly to avoid being caught
Antonyms
- Informal
19
4.5
Accept and deal with unpleasant results or criticism for something you did
How Urgent
- Informal
7
5.6
331
2.4
2
2.5
550
1.6
709
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
run + for + the + hills
The sense 'to flee or escape quickly' is transparently built from 'run' (move rapidly) plus the directional phrase 'for the hills' (toward higher ground/safety), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer running to a safe place. This motion verb + destination composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and does not require a non-literal idiomatic leap, making it accessible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Run for the hills comes from the image of people escaping danger by literally running to the hills or countryside to be safe. So, it now means 'to run away quickly' or 'escape trouble'.