Get out of dodge

Meaning

"Get out of dodge" is an idiom that means to escape or leave quickly, especially to avoid danger or a difficult situation. The literal meaning is "to get out of the town of Dodge City," which is in Kansas, but it has become a general phrase for leaving any place in a hurry.

Usage

• I'm getting tired of all these political debates, let's just get out of dodge and go see a movie.
• When she found out about her husband's affair, she packed her bags and got out of dodge.
• The gang was in trouble, so they had to get out of dodge before the cops caught up with them.
• We were running low on food and fuel, so we had to make a quick exit from the desert.
• After the storm hit, everyone started getting out of dodge as fast as they could.

Roots and History

The exact origin of the idiom "get out of dodge" is unclear, but it's believed to have roots in the town of Dodge City, Kansas. The phrase may have originated in the late 19th century when farmers would flee the city during a dust storm or other natural disaster. Over time, the phrase became more general and was used for any situation where someone wanted to leave quickly.

Synonyms in English

• Bail out
• High tail it out of here
• Make a break for it
• Split
• Scramble out of here

Synonyms in other languages

• French: s'enfuir / quitter
• Spanish: huir / escapar
• German: flüchten / entkommen
• Italian: fuggire / allontanarsi
• Dutch: vluchten / ontsnappen

Similar Idioms

• sleep tight

• glass ceiling

• get off