hitch a ride

Idioms  

1. Also, thumb a ride. Solicit a free ride, especially by hitchhiking. For example, I've no car; can I hitch a ride home with you? or He was hoping to thumb a ride to the stadium. The verb hitch here alludes to walking unevenly, presumably to hop into a car or truck; raising one's thumb is the traditional signal for stopping a car on the road. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hitch a ride

Stremberg, then 24, and his buddy were going to hitch a ride on a log truck bound for San Francisco, catch a flight to Europe, and see the world.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025

It's also used at shipping ports to kill pests before they can hitch a ride to other parts of the world.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2024

Ultra high-definition cameras from a UK start-up will hitch a ride to the International Space Station later.

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2024

Now, researchers say the bird may hitch a ride by listening for very low frequency sounds humans can’t hear—one of only a few species known to do so.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 11, 2023

The kids who didn’t own ships would either hitch a ride with a friend or stampede to the nearest transport terminal, headed for some offworld dance club, gaming arena, or rock concert.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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