fly the coop

The idiom "fly the coop" likens the act of leaving or escaping to a bird flying out of its enclosure.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)To leave a place or situation quickly and often unexpectedly.

Example

After realizing the meeting was pointless, he decided to fly the coop.
She flew the coop as soon as she turned 18, eager to explore the world.

B2General

(informal)To escape from a restrictive or confining environment.

Example

Feeling trapped in her small town, she finally flew the coop to pursue her dreams in the big city.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "fly the coop":

fly out fly off leave the nest take flight take wing let fly bug out duck out jump out fly by jet off cut loose run away with make a run for it lay an egg fly high play chicken hive off fly upon go off the reservation get away fly in the buttermilk hit the bricks run away break away run off run off with run off on flake out jump ship slip out take a flyer bomb out break out make off let loose go rogue head for the hills get off the ground jump off fly a kite fly low