hightail

American  

[hahy-teyl] / ˈhaɪˌteɪl /

verb (used without object)

Informal.

1. to go away or leave rapidly.

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

---

idioms

1. hightail it, hurry; rush; scamper.

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

hightail British  

/ ˈhaɪˌteɪl /

verb

1. Also: hightail it.  informal (intr) to go or move in a great hurry

---

Etymology

Origin of hightail

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

Example Sentences

Unmentioned in his column is the fact that Rose Bowl’s primary tenant, UCLA, is currently trying to hightail it for the sleek confines of SoFi Stadium.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

Read on, study up, then hightail it to your nearest butcher.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2022

Pro tip: Come at 4 p.m. when doors open before all the downtown shoppers and the pre- and post-dinner crowd hightail it to this bar.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 21, 2021

“I feel hopeful but not necessarily optimistic,” said Kimmel, who planned to hightail it out of Washington after the show.

From Washington Post • Oct. 22, 2017

This is my cue to hightail it to the other side of the world.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson