Definify.com

Definition 2024


take_to_one's_heels

take to one's heels

English

Verb

take to one's heels

  1. (idiomatic) To leave, especially to flee or run away.
    • 1839, Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. 10:
      [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.
    • 1908, Robert Louis Stevenson, In the South Seas, ch. 26:
      Of a sudden, however, a man broke from their company, took to his heels, and fled into the church.
    • 1955 July 4, "Art: Patriot Painter," Time:
      After returning the fire three times, Peale's men saw the enemy formed near the college take to their heels.
    • 2010, Dr Oliver Akamnonu, Arranged Marriage and the Vanishing Roots, ISBN 9781452038063 p. 81:
      Often tax defaulters would take to their heels on sighting the tax collectors.

Synonyms

Translations