leg it

USAGE SUMMARY

"leg it" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it informally to mean to run away or escape quickly. Example: "When they saw the police, they decided to leg it." Alternative expressions include "run away" and "make a run for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

When out of sight LEG IT! (run).

WikiHow

By contrast, if a newt or salamander loses its leg, it will grow a new one.

BBC

If someone someone built a chair with just one leg, it couldn't fulfill its function as a chair.

Vice

People knew that due to its body size and short leg it could not pass such barriers.

Environmental Systems Research

I was ready to leg it.

The New Yorker

The leg, it turned out, had a macabre history.

The New Yorker

When he lifted his leg, it slithered under the bed.

The New York Times

Just enough time for her to leg it.

The Guardian

Pull the other leg, it plays jingle bells!' #Lame".

The Guardian - Music

While running home, Posada said he "really couldn't feel the leg; it was kind of numb".

The New York Times - Sports

I can, as a last resort, gulp down my drink in one go and leg it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leg it" when you want to inject a sense of frantic speed or British colloquial flavor into narrative writing. It is particularly effective in storytelling to describe a character's sudden decision to flee.

Common error

Avoid using "leg it" in formal technical reports or professional business correspondence where clarity and sobriety are required. It is an idiomatic expression that can sound overly casual or even flippant in serious contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leg it" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase where "it" acts as a dummy pronoun, common in British English. According to Ludwig, this expression is frequently used to denote a sudden departure or an urgent need to run, often appearing in news narratives and informal guides.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Social Media

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leg it" is a vibrant, informal British idiom primarily used to mean running away or moving with extreme haste. According to Ludwig AI, the term is widely recognized and correctly used in various media outlets like The Guardian and The New Yorker, particularly in narrative or editorial contexts. While it is highly expressive and perfect for informal storytelling, it should be avoided in formal or scientific writing, where literal descriptions of movement like "running fast" are preferred. Its frequent appearance in high-quality journalism highlights its effectiveness in adding character and urgency to prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a run for it

emphasizes the act of escaping a specific situation or location

run away

the literal and most common plain English equivalent

scarper

informal British slang that specifically implies running away to avoid trouble

bolt

focuses on the sudden and swift nature of the movement

high-tail it

informal term suggesting a rapid retreat, often out of fear

beat it

slang for leaving quickly, often used as an imperative command

hotfoot it

implies moving as quickly as possible, often with a sense of urgency

book it

American slang specifically for running at top speed

skedaddle

a more whimsical and old-fashioned way to say leave quickly

vamoose

an informal term for leaving suddenly, derived from Spanish

FAQs

What does it mean to "leg it"?

To "leg it" is an informal expression meaning to run away very quickly, especially to escape or because you are in a hurry. You might see it used as "run away" or "bolt" in more formal contexts.

Is "leg it" British or American English?

While understood globally, "leg it" is a characteristically British idiom. In American English, you might be more likely to hear someone say they are going to "book it" or "high-tail it".

What is a synonym for "leg it" in a sentence?

Common synonyms include "make a run for it", "scarper", or "beat it" depending on the intensity of the situation.

How do you use "leg it" in a sentence?

An example of use would be: "When the alarm went off, they decided to "leg it" through the back exit." It is almost always used as an intransitive verb phrase.