Hightail: meaning, definitions and examples

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hightail

 

[ หˆhaษชteษชl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

informal movement

To hightail it means to leave a place quickly, usually to avoid danger or trouble. It suggests a sense of urgency and speed, often accompanied by a sense of fleeing. The term is used colloquially in various contexts to indicate that someone is making a rapid exit, indicating the need to escape or get away from a situation quickly.

Synonyms

bolt, flee, run away, rush

Examples of usage

  • We need to hightail it out of here before the storm hits.
  • After the argument, she decided to hightail it to her friend's house.
  • When the police arrived, the suspect hightailed it down the alley.

Translations

Translations of the word "hightail" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น correr

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคญเคพเค—เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช fliehen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ melarikan diri

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒั‚ะตะบั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ uciekaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ้€ƒใ’ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท fuir

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ huir

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kaรงmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋„๋ง๊ฐ€๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠู‡ุฑุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ utรฉct

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ utek

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้€ƒ่ท‘

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zbeลพati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ flรฝja

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะฐัˆัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒฅแƒชแƒ”แƒ•แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qaรงmaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ huir

Etymology

The term 'hightail' originates from American English and is believed to have emerged in the early 20th century. The word 'high' in this context suggests speed or urgency, while 'tail' refers to the act of running away rapidly, often used in reference to animals (specifically, how they raise their tails when they flee). The phrase may have roots in the manner in which animals, particularly deer or other swift creatures, show their tails as they escape, exemplifying a rapid exit. The informal use of 'hightail' has also been solidified through various media and cultural references, giving it a place in everyday vernacular.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,701, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.