Beat a hasty retreat

Meaning

The idiom "beat a hasty retreat" means to quickly and hurriedly leave a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. This can be due to fear, danger, or a sense of urgency. The phrase is often used in the context of an event that has taken an unexpected turn, and the speaker wants to get out of the situation as fast as possible.

Usage

• When I heard the loud noise outside, I beat a hasty retreat to my room and locked the door.
• The storm was getting worse, so we beat a hasty retreat to the nearest shelter.
• After realizing that the exam question was much harder than expected, many students beat a hasty retreat to the break room for comfort.
• When the car suddenly broke down in the middle of nowhere, we beat a hasty retreat on foot to find help.
• The unexpected meeting with the boss caused some tension among the employees, and many beat a hasty retreat from the office early.

Roots and History

The idiom "beat a hasty retreat" dates back to the 17th century and is believed to have originated in military language. In battle situations, soldiers would retreat quickly to avoid capture or defeat. The phrase "beat" comes from the military practice of striking an object with force, while "hasty retreat" refers to a quick and urgent escape. Over time, the idiom has evolved to be used in various contexts beyond just military scenarios.

Synonyms in English

• Make a hasty escape
• Scuttle away quickly
• Scramble away in a panic
• Abruptly retreat
• Quickly evacuate

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: Escapar apurriento
• French: Fuir précipitéusement
• German: Panikenflucht
• Italian: Fuga precipitosa
• Portuguese: Fugida apressada

Similar Idioms

• bigger fish to fry

• buy time

• rest assured