fly the coop

1. To get away or escape: “The Hendersons found the cocktail party rather dull and decided to fly the coop.”

Idioms and Phrases

Escape, run away, as in After years of fighting with my mother, my father finally flew the coop . This term originally meant “escape from jail,” known as the coop in underworld slang since the late 1700s. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

But while “eggflation” has calmed temporarily, bird flu has not flown the coop.

From Washington Post

A Bronx Zoo peacock flew the coop Wednesday night and attacked a man before it nestled high up in a tree.

From Washington Times

As of Thursday evening, the vulture had not eaten since he first flew the coop.

From Los Angeles Times

Before you fly the coop, save up a cushion of three to 12 months of living expenses.

From Seattle Times

A snowy owl that found its way to a rooftop in west Orange County has flown the coop, according to local birders who rapturously monitored the unique visitor over the last month.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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