Leaving is a part of everyday life. Whether you’re saying goodbye to friends, moving on from a job, or simply walking out of a room, English has a colorful way of expressing departures through idioms.
Idioms are phrases that don’t always mean exactly what the words say but carry a deeper or figurative meaning. They make conversations lively, natural, and more relatable. Learning idioms for leaving can help you sound more fluent, connect with native speakers, and add a touch of creativity to your writing or speech.
From casual goodbyes to dramatic exits, idioms about leaving capture emotions like excitement, sadness, relief, or closure.
In this article, you’ll discover a wide collection of idioms for leaving, their meanings, practical examples, and even similar alternatives. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to use them in everyday life.
Did You Know?
The word goodbye itself comes from the phrase “God be with ye,” used in the 16th century. Over time, it shortened into the modern form we use today. Many idioms for leaving are born out of history, culture, and even travel—reminding us how people across generations found creative ways to say farewell.
Idioms for Saying Goodbye Casually
1. Take off
Meaning: To leave quickly.
Example: “I need to take off now, the bus won’t wait.”
Alternative: Head out.
Note: Common in informal daily conversations.
2. Head out
Meaning: To start leaving or going somewhere.
Example: “We should head out before traffic gets worse.”
Alternative: Take off.
Note: Friendly, casual way of saying you’re leaving.
3. Call it a day
Meaning: To stop working or end an activity.
Example: “It’s late, let’s call it a day.”
Alternative: Pack it in.
Note: Often used in work or study contexts.
4. Hit the road
Meaning: To begin a journey or leave.
Example: “It’s time to hit the road if we want to reach before dark.”
Alternative: Get going.
Note: Very common in both casual and semi-formal speech.
5. Off you go
Meaning: Encouraging someone to leave or move along.
Example: “Finished your lunch? Off you go to class.”
Alternative: Run along.
Note: Often used by adults to children.
6. Time to split
Meaning: To leave or separate from a group.
Example: “It’s late, guys. Time to split.”
Alternative: Break up the party.
Note: Informal, popular in group settings.
7. Make tracks
Meaning: To leave quickly or get going.
Example: “We’d better make tracks before the storm hits.”
Alternative: Get moving.
Note: Slightly old-fashioned but still understood.
8. Step out
Meaning: To go out briefly.
Example: “I’ll just step out for some fresh air.”
Alternative: Pop out.
Note: Common in casual, polite speech.
9. Pop out
Meaning: To leave for a short errand.
Example: “I’m popping out to buy some milk.”
Alternative: Step out.
Note: British English, everyday use.
10. Take one’s leave
Meaning: To politely say goodbye and go.
Example: “He thanked the host and took his leave.”
Alternative: Bid farewell.
Note: More formal and old-fashioned.
Idioms for Dramatic or Emotional Leaving
11. Storm out
Meaning: To leave angrily.
Example: “She stormed out after the argument.”
Alternative: Walk out in anger.
Note: Used in heated situations.
12. Walk out
Meaning: To leave suddenly, often as protest.
Example: “The workers walked out during the meeting.”
Alternative: Stage a walkout.
Note: Often used in workplace or protests.
13. Fly the nest
Meaning: To leave home for independence.
Example: “At 18, he flew the nest and went to college.”
Alternative: Leave the roost.
Note: Common for young adults moving out.
14. Take a hike
Meaning: To tell someone to go away.
Example: “He was bothering me, so I told him to take a hike.”
Alternative: Get lost.
Note: Informal, sometimes rude.
15. Pack up and leave
Meaning: To leave suddenly, often completely.
Example: “They packed up and left the town overnight.”
Alternative: Clear out.
Note: Used when leaving permanently.
16. Cut and run
Meaning: To leave quickly to avoid trouble.
Example: “When the police came, the thieves cut and ran.”
Alternative: Flee the scene.
Note: Dramatic or urgent situations.
17. Jump ship
Meaning: To leave a group, job, or commitment suddenly.
Example: “Many employees jumped ship when the company struggled.”
Alternative: Abandon ship.
Note: Often used in professional or group settings.
18. Break camp
Meaning: To pack up and leave a temporary stay.
Example: “We broke camp at dawn to continue the hike.”
Alternative: Move on.
Note: Origin from camping or military life.
19. Walk away
Meaning: To leave calmly or decide not to engage.
Example: “He just walked away instead of arguing.”
Alternative: Step away.
Note: Peaceful alternative in conflicts.
20. Slip away
Meaning: To leave quietly without being noticed.
Example: “She slipped away from the party without saying goodbye.”
Alternative: Sneak out.
Note: Often used in secretive or emotional leaving.
Idioms for Moving On in Life
21. Move on
Meaning: To leave something behind emotionally or physically.
Example: “It’s hard, but it’s time to move on.”
Alternative: Let go.
Note: Common in relationships or career changes.
22. Close the chapter
Meaning: To end a phase in life.
Example: “She closed the chapter on her old job.”
Alternative: Turn the page.
Note: Slightly formal, often reflective.
23. Turn the page
Meaning: To start something new after leaving the past.
Example: “After the divorce, he turned the page and rebuilt his life.”
Alternative: Start fresh.
Note: Positive tone, often motivational.
24. Say goodbye to
Meaning: To accept leaving something behind.
Example: “I had to say goodbye to late nights when I became a parent.”
Alternative: Let go of.
Note: Everyday use, both literal and figurative.
25. Cut ties
Meaning: To end a relationship or connection.
Example: “She cut ties with her old business partner.”
Alternative: Sever relations.
Note: Often professional or personal.
26. Break free
Meaning: To leave restrictions or control.
Example: “He broke free from his toxic job.”
Alternative: Escape.
Note: Positive, empowering.
27. Part ways
Meaning: To separate paths with someone.
Example: “The band members parted ways after 10 years.”
Alternative: Go separate ways.
Note: Formal and neutral.
28. Let go
Meaning: To release and move on.
Example: “It’s hard, but you need to let go of the past.”
Alternative: Move on.
Note: Emotional and reflective.
29. Out the door
Meaning: Leaving quickly or being dismissed.
Example: “By next week, he’ll be out the door.”
Alternative: Shown the exit.
Note: Often workplace slang.
30. Walk away from
Meaning: To leave something behind voluntarily.
Example: “He walked away from a high-paying job.”
Alternative: Abandon.
Note: Neutral, often professional.
Idioms for Quick or Sudden Leaving
31. Make a getaway
Meaning: To leave quickly, often secretly.
Example: “The robbers made a getaway before the police arrived.”
Alternative: Escape.
Note: Often linked with crime or urgency.
32. Beat it
Meaning: To leave immediately.
Example: “This place is dangerous—beat it!”
Alternative: Clear out.
Note: Informal, sometimes rude.
33. Clear out
Meaning: To leave or empty a place.
Example: “We need to clear out by morning.”
Alternative: Vacate.
Note: Everyday use, sometimes formal.
34. Push off
Meaning: To leave, usually casually.
Example: “Alright, I’ll push off now.”
Alternative: Shove off.
Note: Informal, more British English.
35. Shove off
Meaning: To leave rudely or casually.
Example: “He told them to shove off.”
Alternative: Push off.
Note: Informal, slightly rude.
36. Get lost
Meaning: To rudely tell someone to leave.
Example: “Stop bothering me and get lost.”
Alternative: Take a hike.
Note: Strong, informal, impolite.
37. Exit stage left
Meaning: To leave discreetly or quietly.
Example: “He exited stage left before the fight got worse.”
Alternative: Slip away.
Note: Comes from theatre language.
38. Up and leave
Meaning: To leave suddenly without notice.
Example: “She just up and left without explanation.”
Alternative: Walk out.
Note: Everyday speech.
39. Pack it in
Meaning: To stop an activity and leave.
Example: “It’s too cold, let’s pack it in for today.”
Alternative: Call it a day.
Note: Casual, friendly.
40. Duck out
Meaning: To leave secretly or suddenly.
Example: “He ducked out before the meeting ended.”
Alternative: Sneak out.
Note: Informal, everyday speech.
41. Sneak out
Meaning: To leave without being noticed.
Example: “The kids sneaked out after midnight.”
Alternative: Slip away.
Note: Informal, often playful.
42. Bail out
Meaning: To leave quickly, often abandoning responsibility.
Example: “He bailed out of the project at the last minute.”
Alternative: Jump ship.
Note: Common in casual and business settings.
43. Take French leave
Meaning: To leave without telling anyone.
Example: “He took French leave during the party.”
Alternative: Ghost.
Note: Polite but slightly humorous.
44. Ghost someone
Meaning: To leave communication suddenly.
Example: “She ghosted him after two dates.”
Alternative: Cut off.
Note: Very modern, informal.
45. Split up
Meaning: To separate or leave a group.
Example: “We split up after the concert.”
Alternative: Break up.
Note: Neutral, everyday.
46. Break away
Meaning: To separate or leave forcefully.
Example: “The prisoner broke away from the guards.”
Alternative: Escape.
Note: Common in dramatic settings.
47. Slip out
Meaning: To leave quietly.
Example: “She slipped out while everyone was busy.”
Alternative: Duck out.
Note: Soft, polite idiom.
48. Cut out
Meaning: To leave quickly.
Example: “Sorry, I have to cut out early today.”
Alternative: Head out.
Note: Informal daily use.
49. Roll out
Meaning: To leave or depart.
Example: “Alright, let’s roll out before it gets dark.”
Alternative: Hit the road.
Note: Casual, friendly.
How to Use These Idioms in Daily Life
- In Speaking: Use casual idioms like head out or pop out with friends, while dramatic ones like storm out or slip away add flair to storytelling.
- In Writing: Idioms such as turn the page or close the chapter work well in essays, blogs, or motivational content.
- In Professional Settings: Polite idioms like call it a day or part ways are useful in business contexts. Avoid overly rude ones like get lost at work.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms
- Wrong Context
❌ “I hit the road in my office meeting.”
✅ “After the meeting, I hit the road to go home.” - Mixing Idioms
❌ “He stormed the road out.”
✅ “He stormed out after the fight.” - Too Formal or Too Rude
❌ Saying get lost to your boss.
✅ Better to say I’ll head out now.
FAQs
1. What does “hit the road” mean?
It means to leave or start a journey, usually in a casual and friendly way.
2. Can I use idioms for leaving in formal writing?
Yes, but choose polite idioms like part ways or call it a day instead of casual ones like beat it.
3. Are idioms for leaving the same worldwide?
Some are universal, but many are specific to cultures, like take French leave in English.
4. Which idioms are good for workplace use?
Phrases like call it a day, part ways, out the door are common in professional settings.
5. What’s the difference between “sneak out” and “slip away”?
Both mean leaving quietly, but sneak out feels more secretive, while slip away is softer and more neutral.
Conclusion
Idioms for leaving add color, depth, and personality to your English. From casual exits like head out to emotional ones like part ways or dramatic ones like storm out, they help you express the many shades of departure in daily life.
Whether you’re speaking, writing, or in professional settings, the right idiom can make your language richer and more natural. Keep practicing, notice how native speakers use them, and soon you’ll leave a lasting impression with your words!
