bug out

verb

1. slang,  (intr, adverb) to depart hurriedly; run away; retreat

Idioms and Phrases

Bulge, as in The news will make her eyes bug out with astonishment . This expression was originally used literally for bulging eyes and later used more loosely as a sign of astonishment. [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]

Leave, run out, as in This conference is a bore; I think I'll bug out . This usage originated as military slang for deserting and today is used more loosely. [ Slang ; c. 1950]

Example Sentences

And, as it turns out, there are more bugs out there worth worrying about than previously reported.

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His eyes bugged out and reminded me of the Viking berserker.

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“But what does that mean? I am familiar with the concept of bugging out, but I do not think I have heard the word love before.”

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I did every dirty job there was: I cleaned outhouses and strained bugs out of cisterns.

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“There's been a bunch of stuff that's happened over the past 16 months … that is going to make people's eyes bug out.”

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Related Words

• flee 
• fly 
• leave 
• move 
• pass 
• progress 
• retire 
• travel