Dictionary

take to one's heels en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To leave, especially to flee or run away.
   • After returning the fire three times, Peale's men saw the enemy formed near the college take to their heels. 1955 July 4, “Art: Patriot Painter”, in Time:
   • [T]hen, confused and frightened, he took to his heels; and, not knowing what he did, made off as fast as he could lay his feet to the ground. 1839, Charles Dickens, chapter 10, in Oliver Twist:
   • Often tax defaulters would take to their heels on sighting the tax collectors. 2010, Dr Oliver Akamnonu, Arranged Marriage and the Vanishing Roots, →ISBN, page 81:
   • Of a sudden, however, a man broke from their company, took to his heels, and fled into the church. 1908, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 26, in In the South Seas:

Forms

Relateds

take to the hills

Synonyms

make tracks

Translations (29)

es salir en carrera (to flee or run away) · yi נעמען די פֿיס אויף די פּלייצעס (to flee or run away) · pl brać nogi za pas (to flee or run away) · bg плюя си на петите (to flee or run away) · es darse a la fuga (to flee or run away) · ta ஓட்டம்பிடி (to flee or run away) · de sich aus dem Staub machen (to flee or run away) · cs vzít nohy na ramena (to flee or run away) · de die Beine in die Hand nehmen (to flee or run away) · pt pôr os pés em polvorosa (to flee or run away) · hu felhúzza a nyúlcipőt (to flee or run away) · is taka til fótanna (to flee or run away) · el το βάζω στα πόδια (to flee or run away) · fr prendre ses jambes à son cou (to flee or run away) · yi מאַכן פּליטה (to flee or run away) · nl het hazenpad kiezen (to flee or run away) · es poner pies en polvorosa (to flee or run away) · ga na boinn a bhaint as (to flee or run away) · es apretar los talones (to flee or run away) · ro a o lua la sănătoasa (to flee or run away) · hi नौ दो ग्यारह होना (to flee or run away) · ro a-și lua picioarele la spinare (to flee or run away) · tr topukları götüne değerek kaçmak (to flee or run away) · pl wziąć nogi za pas (to flee or run away) · fi ottaa hatkat (to flee or run away) · de sich davonmachen (to flee or run away) · sh podbrusiti pete (to flee or run away) · de Reißaus nehmen (to flee or run away) · is taka á rás (to flee or run away)