hit the road
Meaning
To leave or depart, often to start a trip or go somewhere.
Origin
From the early-to-mid 20th century: “hit” in the sense of “set out/strike out,” plus “the road” as a metonym for travel. Popularized in modern usage by songs such as Ray Charles’s 1961 “Hit the Road Jack.”
Notes
Casual and common. Can be neutral (“leave now”) or dismissive in the imperative (“Hit the road!” = “Go away/leave”).
Examples
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We should hit the road before traffic gets worse.
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After breakfast, we hit the road and drove straight to Osaka.
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I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow, so I’m going to hit the road.
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Once the storm cleared, the delivery drivers hit the road again.
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If you want to make it by sunset, it’s time to hit the road.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase: usually “hit the road.” Often used with let’s/it’s time to (“Let’s hit the road”) or as an imperative (“Hit the road!”). Tense can change (“hit the road,” “hitting the road,” “will hit the road”).
Synonyms
- leave
- head out
- set off
- take off
- get going
- be on one’s way
Antonyms
- stay put
- stick around