take to one's heels

take to one's heels

1. (idiomatic) To leave, especially to flee or run away.
   • 1839, Charles Dickens, chapter 10, in Oliver Twist:

     [T]hen, confused and frightened, he took to his heels; and, not knowing what he did, made off as fast as he could lay his feet to the ground.

   • 1908, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 26, in In the South Seas:

     Of a sudden, however, a man broke from their company, took to his heels, and fled into the church.

   • 1955 July 4, "Art: Patriot Painter," Time:

     After returning the fire three times, Peale's men saw the enemy formed near the college take to their heels.

   • 2010, Dr Oliver Akamnonu, Arranged Marriage and the Vanishing Roots‎, →ISBN, page 81:

     Often tax defaulters would take to their heels on sighting the tax collectors.

• make tracks