escape hatch

American  

noun

1. a hatch used for emergency escape, as from a submarine or aircraft.

2. a means of avoiding a troublesome situation; a ready or handy way out.

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escape hatch British  

noun

1. a means of escape in an emergency, esp from a submarine

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Etymology

Origin of escape hatch

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Finding “cross functional synergies” was, I always thought, the refuge of the insecure, a linguistic escape hatch to avoid responsibility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

While the mechanics may be complicated, the upshot for savers is clear—anyone worried about declining saving account rates now has an escape hatch.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

There’s a reluctance baked into Bravo obsession, like an escape hatch one can use when their favorite shows start to dull — and they always will, even if their quality eventually turns back around.

From Salon • Dec. 2, 2025

But it instead feels like an easy escape hatch when what “On Swift Horses” promised was a richer psychological landscape about what roils inside hearts accustomed to hiding.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025

“Exactly. I think the escape hatch is where the puzzle says the fire pit should be.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• side door