hightail

[ hahy-teyl ]
/ ˈhaɪˌteɪl /

verb (used without object) Informal.

to go away or leave rapidly: Last we saw of him, he was hightailing down the street.

Idioms for hightail

    hightail it, hurry; rush; scamper: Hightail it down to the grocery store and buy some bread for lunch.

Origin of hightail

1885–90, Americanism; high + tail1, in reference to the raised tails of fleeing animals, as deer or rabbits

Example sentences from the Web for hightail

  • The two hightail it out of there, but they ultimately get their pie and their happy ending, too.

    12 Craziest Pie Scenes |Marlow Stern |November 21, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
  • A good dozen, however, saw what was happening in time to swerve their mounts and hightail it away.

    The Pirates of Ersatz |Murray Leinster

British Dictionary definitions for hightail

hightail
/ (ˈhaɪˌteɪl) /

verb

(intr) informal, mainly US and Canadian to go or move in a great hurry Also: hightail it