# hit the road

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hit-the-road
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To begin traveling in an automobile or other road vehicle.

## Examples

- We finished breakfast and hit the road.
- I need to hit the road now to arrive at the wedding on time.
- The family packed their bags early so they could hit the road before the traffic got bad.
- After the band finished their final show in the city, they loaded their instruments into the van to hit the road for the next tour stop.
- The delivery driver checked his map one last time before he hit the road to drop off the remaining packages.
- With the sun barely above the horizon and the car loaded with supplies, the travelers hit the road, eager to leave the city behind and reach the coast by nightfall.

## Origin

The expression appears to be an internal English development with no specific date of origin or named inventor recorded. Linguists note a typological similarity to the Russian phrases уда́риться в бега́ (udáritʹsja v begá), уда́рить по та́пкам (udáritʹ po tápkam), and тро́нуться (trónutʹsja), all of which employ the imagery of striking or movement to denote departure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.