get out of Dodge

An allusion to Dodge City, Kansas, a busy cattle town in the late 19th century. Possibly inspired by the radio and television series Gunsmoke (1952-1975).

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get out of Dodge

1. (US, idiomatic) To leave, especially to leave a difficult or dangerous environment with all possible haste.
   • 1988, "Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks, and Forests of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, One Hundredth Congress," November 3 and 5, 1987, Volume 4, p. 94:

     The pulp mills, he predicts, "are going to just high-grade all the best trees and get the hell out of Dodge."

   • 1999, Robert Forrest Burgess, The Cave Divers‎, →ISBN, page 298:

     When Jasper surfaced, Skiles thought to himself, Woody will come through. He'll find the way. He always gets us out of predicaments like this. Now that he's back it's just a matter or gearing up, getting in the water and getting the hell out of Dodge.

• Often used with the hell as an intensifier. (See also the hell out of.)