hightail

[ hahy-teyl ]

verb (used without object)

, Informal.

1. to go away or leave rapidly:

   Last we saw of him, he was hightailing down the street.

hightail

/ ˈhaɪˌteɪl /

verb

1. informal.
   intr to go or move in a great hurry Alsohightail it

Word History and Origins

Origin of hightail¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; high + tail ¹, in reference to the raised tails of fleeing animals, as deer or rabbits

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hightail it, Informal. hurry; rush; scamper:

   Hightail it down to the grocery store and buy some bread for lunch.

Example Sentences

Then, if the child is fever-free and symptoms are improving, according to the new guidance, they could pop on a mask and hightail it back to class — no testing needed.

From Science News

You wonder why Paxton hasn’t hightailed it out of that house sooner.

From Time

The two hightail it out of there, but they ultimately get their pie and their happy ending, too.

From The Daily Beast

A good dozen, however, saw what was happening in time to swerve their mounts and hightail it away.

From Project Gutenberg

After taking so much we'd spook like crazy animals and hightail for the woods over not making footprints.

From Project Gutenberg