Sometimes people leave a place, a group, or a situation. We all do it — we say goodbye, walk away, or move on. To talk about this, the English language has many idioms. These are short phrases that don’t always mean exactly what the words say, but they help us talk in fun and clear ways.
“Idioms for Leaving” can sound a bit silly at times, but they all help us understand how people leave or move on. Some idioms are polite. Others are funny or a little dramatic. In this article, you’ll learn idioms that show different ways people leave, along with what they mean and how to use them. Let’s explore these expressions that make everyday language more interesting.
Idioms for Leaving
1. Hit the road
Meaning: To leave or start a journey
Example Sentence:
– It’s getting late, we should hit the road.
– After dinner, Dad said it was time to hit the road.
Other ways to say: Get going, head out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old travel days when people started their trip on the road.
Usage: Use it when someone is leaving a place to go somewhere else.
2. Take off
Meaning: To leave quickly
Example Sentence:
– He took off as soon as the bell rang.
– They took off before the storm started.
Other ways to say: Leave fast, head out
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s also used when airplanes leave the ground.
Usage: Used when someone leaves in a hurry.
3. Bail out
Meaning: To leave or quit something suddenly
Example Sentence:
– He bailed out of the game when it got tough.
– She bailed out of the project at the last minute.
Other ways to say: Drop out, leave quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from jumping out of a plane using a parachute.
Usage: Used when someone quits or leaves something suddenly.
4. Clear out
Meaning: To leave a place, often quickly
Example Sentence:
– The teacher told us to clear out of the classroom.
– They cleared out when they saw the bees.
Other ways to say: Leave, exit
Fun Fact/Origin: Sounds like cleaning or removing everything from a space.
Usage: Often used when clearing a room or area.
5. Head out
Meaning: To start leaving
Example Sentence:
– We should head out before the rain starts.
– He headed out after finishing his snack.
Other ways to say: Get going, leave
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to the direction someone’s head points when walking away.
Usage: Common for casual departures.
6. Roll out
Meaning: To leave, especially in a vehicle
Example Sentence:
– The bus rolled out at 3 p.m.
– Let’s roll out before traffic gets bad.
Other ways to say: Leave, depart
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used for large vehicles or groups leaving together.
Usage: Used when a group is leaving together.
7. Duck out
Meaning: To leave secretly or quietly
Example Sentence:
– She ducked out during the movie.
– He ducked out of the party without saying goodbye.
Other ways to say: Sneak away, slip out
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a duck slipping away from danger.
Usage: When someone leaves without being noticed.
8. Bow out
Meaning: To leave politely or quietly
Example Sentence:
– He bowed out of the game to let others play.
– She bowed out of the club this year.
Other ways to say: Step down, leave nicely
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from actors leaving the stage.
Usage: Used when someone leaves in a respectful way.
9. Walk out
Meaning: To leave suddenly, sometimes upset
Example Sentence:
– She walked out during the meeting.
– He walked out after the argument.
Other ways to say: Leave, storm out
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when someone leaves with strong feelings.
Usage: Used when someone leaves because they are upset.
10. Slip away
Meaning: To leave quietly without being seen
Example Sentence:
– He slipped away before dessert.
– She slipped away when no one was looking.
Other ways to say: Sneak out, sneak away
Fun Fact/Origin: Like something quietly sliding out of sight.
Usage: Used when someone leaves without drawing attention.
11. Hit the bricks
Meaning: To leave or start walking
Example Sentence:
– Time to hit the bricks and go home.
– After lunch, they hit the bricks and walked downtown.
Other ways to say: Head out, go on foot
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from walking on brick roads.
Usage: Often used for walking away.
12. Beat it
Meaning: To go away quickly
Example Sentence:
– He told us to beat it before his parents came.
– The dog beat it when it heard thunder.
Other ways to say: Leave fast, scram
Fun Fact/Origin: Slang that became popular in movies.
Usage: Often used in casual or joking ways.
13. Blow this popsicle stand
Meaning: To leave a boring or unfun place
Example Sentence:
– This place is dull, let’s blow this popsicle stand.
– After the movie ended, they blew the popsicle stand.
Other ways to say: Let’s get out of here, leave
Fun Fact/Origin: Funny way to say you’re leaving something unexciting.
Usage: Used in playful or silly conversations.
14. Make tracks
Meaning: To leave quickly
Example Sentence:
– It’s getting late, time to make tracks.
– They made tracks before the rain hit.
Other ways to say: Leave, hurry out
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to footprints or tire tracks left behind.
Usage: Used when someone leaves in a hurry.
15. Say goodbye
Meaning: To part from someone
Example Sentence:
– He said goodbye to his friends before moving.
– She waved and said goodbye at the bus stop.
Other ways to say: Part ways, bid farewell
Fun Fact/Origin: A basic and polite way to leave someone.
Usage: Used when ending a visit or talk.
16. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop doing something and leave
Example Sentence:
– We finished the work, so let’s call it a day.
– After practice, the coach said to call it a day.
Other ways to say: Finish up, wrap it up
Fun Fact/Origin: Used when someone stops working for the day.
Usage: Often used at the end of work or school.
17. Jump ship
Meaning: To leave something, often suddenly or when things go wrong
Example Sentence:
– He jumped ship before the project got harder.
– The player jumped ship to join another team.
Other ways to say: Quit, bail
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sailors leaving their ship.
Usage: Used when someone quits or leaves in a tough time.
18. Take a hike
Meaning: To leave, often rudely
Example Sentence:
– He told the bully to take a hike.
– When they got bored, they decided to take a hike.
Other ways to say: Go away, leave now
Fun Fact/Origin: Hikes are long walks, so telling someone to take one means “go away.”
Usage: Used to tell someone to leave, sometimes as a joke.
19. Split
Meaning: To leave or go away
Example Sentence:
– Let’s split before the line gets long.
– They split after lunch was over.
Other ways to say: Go, head out
Fun Fact/Origin: Slang that became popular in the 1960s.
Usage: Casual and quick way to say someone left.
20. Say your goodbyes
Meaning: To tell people goodbye before leaving
Example Sentence:
– She said her goodbyes before the move.
– It’s time to say our goodbyes and head home.
Other ways to say: Farewell, part ways
Fun Fact/Origin: A formal way to leave someone or something.
Usage: Used during important or emotional goodbyes.
21. Move on
Meaning: To leave a place or situation and start something new
Example Sentence:
– He moved on after finishing the job.
– It’s time to move on from that argument.
Other ways to say: Go forward, start fresh
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in emotional or life changes.
Usage: Used when leaving behind the past.
22. Check out
Meaning: To leave a place, often a hotel or room
Example Sentence:
– They checked out of the hotel early.
– We checked out and went home.
Other ways to say: Leave, log out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from registering your leave from a place.
Usage: Often used for leaving a building or place.
23. Clock out
Meaning: To stop working and leave
Example Sentence:
– She clocked out at 5 p.m.
– He forgot to clock out before leaving work.
Other ways to say: End your shift, stop working
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from machines that record work hours.
Usage: Used when someone finishes work.
24. Peace out
Meaning: A casual or fun way to say goodbye
Example Sentence:
– Gotta go—peace out!
– He waved and said, “Peace out, friends!”
Other ways to say: Later, bye
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from saying goodbye with peace and kindness.
Usage: Very informal and friendly.
25. Exit stage left
Meaning: To leave quietly or unexpectedly
Example Sentence:
– He exited stage left during the argument.
– She exited stage left when things got awkward.
Other ways to say: Leave quietly, sneak out
Fun Fact/Origin: From theater, meaning leave the stage from the left side.
Usage: Used when someone leaves smoothly or suddenly.
26. Say farewell
Meaning: To say goodbye formally
Example Sentence:
– They said farewell before the trip.
– She gave a hug and said farewell.
Other ways to say: Goodbye, take care
Fun Fact/Origin: “Farewell” means “may you fare well.”
Usage: Used for kind or polite goodbyes.
27. Step out
Meaning: To go outside or leave briefly
Example Sentence:
– I’m going to step out for some air.
– She stepped out to take a phone call.
Other ways to say: Go outside, leave
Fun Fact/Origin: Means taking a quick leave.
Usage: Used when someone leaves for a short time.
28. Hit the trail
Meaning: To leave and start a journey
Example Sentence:
– Time to hit the trail and head to camp.
– They hit the trail early in the morning.
Other ways to say: Set out, begin a trip
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hiking or walking on trails.
Usage: Often used for outdoor travel or adventures.
29. Fade away
Meaning: To leave slowly or disappear
Example Sentence:
– He faded away into the crowd.
– The music faded away as we walked off.
Other ways to say: Disappear, vanish
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in stories or songs.
Usage: Describes someone leaving slowly or quietly.
30. Get lost
Meaning: To leave rudely
Example Sentence:
– He told the bully to get lost.
– She said “get lost” when they annoyed her.
Other ways to say: Go away, scram
Fun Fact/Origin: A rude way to tell someone to go.
Usage: Used when someone is angry or upset.
31. Head for the hills
Meaning: To run away quickly
Example Sentence:
– When the bees came, they headed for the hills!
– The kids headed for the hills after breaking the vase.
Other ways to say: Run away, flee
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from running to safety in high places.
Usage: Used when escaping quickly.
32. Light out
Meaning: To leave in a hurry
Example Sentence:
– They lit out when the lights went off.
– He lit out without saying goodbye.
Other ways to say: Leave fast, dash out
Fun Fact/Origin: Old-fashioned, means to go quickly.
Usage: Rare, but still used in stories.
33. Pack it in
Meaning: To stop doing something and leave
Example Sentence:
– They packed it in after the game.
– He packed it in and went home.
Other ways to say: Call it a day, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to putting things away to leave.
Usage: Used to end an activity.
34. Break camp
Meaning: To leave a place where you stayed temporarily
Example Sentence:
– We broke camp early and headed home.
– The scouts broke camp before the rain started.
Other ways to say: Pack up, leave
Fun Fact/Origin: From camping language.
Usage: Used when leaving a temporary spot.
35. Cut and run
Meaning: To leave quickly, often to escape trouble
Example Sentence:
– When they saw trouble, they cut and ran.
– He cut and ran after breaking the window.
Other ways to say: Flee, dash off
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ships cutting anchor ropes to escape fast.
Usage: Used when someone runs away quickly.
Quiz: Idioms for Leaving
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “hit the road” mean?
A) Take a nap
B) Leave or start a trip
C) Stand still
2. If someone “ducks out” of a party, what are they doing?
A) Making a speech
B) Leaving quietly
C) Throwing a party
3. What does it mean to “call it a day”?
A) Look at the sky
B) Start a new job
C) Stop working and leave
4. If someone says “peace out,” what do they mean?
A) They want to fight
B) They are saying goodbye
C) They are asking a question
5. What does “jump ship” mean?
A) Jump on a boat
B) Stay and help
C) Quit or leave something
6. What does “take off” mean in this sentence: “They took off after lunch”?
A) They flew a plane
B) They left quickly
C) They had dessert
7. If a person “heads out,” what are they doing?
A) Building a house
B) Starting to leave
C) Cooking dinner
8. What does it mean to “walk out” during a meeting?
A) Take a long walk
B) Leave, possibly upset
C) Join the meeting late
9. What does “blow this popsicle stand” mean?
A) Eat dessert
B) Go to a fun place
C) Leave a boring place
10. What does “cut and run” mean?
A) Bake cookies
B) Escape quickly
C) Make a phone call
Answer Key
- B) Leave or start a trip
- B) Leaving quietly
- C) Stop working and leave
- B) They are saying goodbye
- C) Quit or leave something
- B) They left quickly
- B) Starting to leave
- B) Leave, possibly upset
- C) Leave a boring place
- B) Escape quickly
Wrapping Up
Leaving can happen in many ways. People walk out, slip away, or just say goodbye. These idioms make talking about it more fun and clear. They help us share how we leave — whether it’s quick, quiet, or even emotional.
Now that you know these expressions, you’ll hear them more often in movies, books, and everyday talk. Try using a few yourself next time you leave school, a party, or even just a friend’s house.
