make oneself scarce

Idioms and Phrases

Depart quickly, go away, as in The children saw Mrs. Frost coming and made themselves scarce . This idiom applies scarce in the sense of “seldom seen” to removing one's presence. [c. 1800]

Example Sentences

V. be absent &c. adj.; keep away, keep out of the way; play truant, absent oneself, stay away; keep aloof, hold aloof. withdraw, make oneself scarce, vacate; go away &c.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• avoid
• depart
• disappear
• dodge
• elude
• emerge
• evade
• flee
• fly
• leave
• run
• slip
• slip away
• vanish