make tracks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make tracks" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to move or leave quickly or to depart. For example, "We need to make tracks if we're going to get to the airport on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

You'll make tracks like a herd of elephants.

The New Yorker

"We've got to make tracks social again," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes they used axes to make tracks for the runners of their sledges.

The New Yorker

Dismissed, the guards make tracks, ready for their own fun: beer by the ocean, cookouts, movies.

The New York Times

"He did not make tracks the other way and stay away.

The Washington Post

Indie-pop ain't a dirty word, especially when bands like Them Swoops make tracks like this.

The Guardian - Music

The animals make tracks, build a snowman and cuddle up in a cave to nap.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The chaos of a rundown can make tracking difficult.

The New York Times

Will Hapa Nation eventually make tracking "race" impossible?

The New York Times - Magazine

All of which ought to make tracking down dames a little easier for both companies.

The Economist

Young studies the factors that make track athletes want to continue competing into old age.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "make tracks" to add a sense of urgency or informality to your writing when describing someone leaving a place. For example: "It's getting late; we should make tracks."

Common error

Avoid using "make tracks" literally (e.g., creating physical tracks). This phrase is an idiom and should only be used to mean 'to leave' or 'to depart'.

Linguistic Context

"Make tracks" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase, indicating the act of leaving or departing. Ludwig highlights its usage in various contexts, reinforcing its primary function as a marker of departure. The phrase adds a sense of urgency or informality to the statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make tracks" is a common idiom used to express the act of leaving or departing, often with a sense of urgency or informality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media sources. While generally suitable for neutral to informal contexts, it should be used judiciously in formal or academic writing. Related phrases include "depart" and "leave", offering more formal alternatives when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get going

Emphasizes the need to start moving or leave.

take off

Can imply a sudden or quick departure.

set off

Implies starting a journey or leaving for a destination.

head out

Suggests a casual departure.

leave

A general term for going away from a place.

depart

A formal and general term for leaving a place.

scram

Suggests leaving quickly, often to avoid trouble.

clear out

Suggests emptying a space by leaving.

bolt

Implies a very rapid and sudden departure.

vamoose

An informal way to say leave quickly.

FAQs

How to use "make tracks" in a sentence?

Use "make tracks" to indicate that someone is leaving, often quickly or decisively. For example, "After the meeting, everyone decided to "head out", so we needed to make tracks."

What can I say instead of "make tracks"?

You can use alternatives like "depart", "leave", or "set off" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "make tracks"?

The phrase "make tracks" is suitable in informal and semi-formal contexts where you want to convey a sense of urgency or a quick departure. It's less appropriate in formal or academic writing.

Is "make tracks" the same as "cover ground"?

No, "make tracks" means to leave or depart, while "cover ground" means to make progress or advance in a task or journey. They are not interchangeable.