English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Make like a tree and leave
Meaning
The idiom "make like a tree and leave" is an expression that means to go away quickly or to disappear. It can also mean to behave as if one does not care or to act indifferently towards something or someone.
Usage
- John was upset when he found out that his boss had given the promotion to someone else, so he made like a tree and left the office.
- When they arrived at the party, Sarah realized she didn't know anyone there, so she made like a tree and left.
- The game was over, and Tom was unhappy with the outcome, so he made like a tree and left the arena.
- Mary had been waiting for her friend for an hour, but when she finally arrived, Mary made like a tree and left.
- When they asked him about the mistake, John acted like he didn't know anything about it and made like a tree and left the room.
Roots and History
The origin of this idiom is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the 19th century. The phrase "to make like a tree" has been used since at least the early 20th century, but the combination of "make like a tree and leave" became more common in the late 20th century. The idiom may have gained popularity because it is easily understood and can be used in various contexts.
Synonyms in English
- Take off
- Skedaddle
- Vamoose
- Scramble
- High tail it out of here
Synonyms in other languages
- 逃走 (fèng zuò) - Chinese
- ت��كى (takik) - Arabic
- أفضل الأسراع (afḍlu l-asrā') - Urdu
- התנופסן (htanufsen) - Hebrew
- לאשעדנים חומץ בסוכה (leashudnim chometz besukah) - Hebrew