Skedaddled

To skedaddle means to depart hastily, often due to fear, surprise, or impending danger. It implies a quick and hurried retreat, suggesting an urgency to escape a potentially undesirable situation. The action signifies a sudden and swift exit, emphasizing the need to remove oneself from a location promptly. The implication is often one of self-preservation or avoidance of unpleasant consequences. The word evokes a sense of quick, sometimes chaotic, movement and leaves little room for lingering or deliberation.

Skedaddled meaning with examples

• When the teacher announced a pop quiz, many students, realizing they weren't prepared, suddenly 'skedaddled' out of the classroom, feigning urgent appointments and forgotten homework, to avoid the potential stress and poor grades. The quick exits created a wave of motion through the hallway.
• Seeing the angry bull charge towards them, the tourists immediately 'skedaddled' behind a sturdy fence for safety, abandoning their picnic basket and cameras in their rush to avoid a potentially dangerous encounter with the animal in the field.
• As soon as the house alarm started blaring, the burglars 'skedaddled', abandoning their loot, leaving behind only a scattered mess in their haste to escape the imminent arrival of the police, escaping before getting caught.
• The moment the first raindrop fell during the outdoor concert, the crowd 'skedaddled', seeking shelter under awnings, and inside any available buildings as the storm quickly intensified and darkened the sky, before being caught by the rain.
• Upon hearing their parents arrive home early from work, the children 'skedaddled' to hide their hastily concealed mess and toys scattered throughout the living room, trying to avoid the inevitable scolding and clean-up duties to follow, quick to get out of sight.