Definition

1. Verb:

   • To run away or depart quickly and hurriedly, often in a state of panic, confusion, or to avoid something.
   • To flee or scatter hastily.

2. Noun (informal):

   • A hasty, disorderly flight or departure.

Usage

• The verb "skedaddle" is informal and often used in a lighthearted or humorous tone to describe a rapid, sometimes chaotic, exit.
• It is typically used as an intransitive verb (it does not take a direct object).
• The noun form is less common than the verb.

Examples

• Verb:

  • When the police arrived, the troublemakers decided to skedaddle.
  • The cat skedaddled up the tree as soon as it saw the dog.
  • "We'd better skedaddle before the storm hits," he said.

• Noun:

  • The sudden skedaddle of the crowd left the street empty.
  • Their getaway was more of a panicked skedaddle than a planned escape.

Advanced Usage

• "to skedaddle out of (somewhere)": To leave a place hastily.
  • He skedaddled out of the meeting as soon as it was over.
• Often used in the imperative mood to urge someone to leave quickly.
  • "Skedaddle! I'll handle this," she whispered to the children.

Variants and Related Words

• Skedaddler (noun, informal): A person who runs away hastily.
  • The skedaddlers left a cloud of dust behind them.

Synonyms

• Verb: Scram, scoot, bolt, flee, run off, beat a hasty retreat, vamoose (slang), make tracks (informal).
• Noun: Flight, getaway, retreat, exodus.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Idioms

• "Cut and run": To leave a situation quickly to avoid trouble or difficulty. (Similar in meaning to skedaddle but can imply abandoning a responsibility.)
  • When the project failed, he cut and ran.
• "Take to one's heels": To run away.
  • The thief took to his heels when the alarm sounded.

Noun

1. a hasty flight

Verb

1. run away, as if in a panic