ENGLISH
REFERENCE

run for the hills

idiom
Meaning

To flee.


Examples
SIMPLE

When the dog started barking, the cat ran for the hills.

CONTEXTUAL

As soon as the manager mentioned the extra weekend work, most of the staff wanted to run for the hills.

COMPLEX

Upon realizing the sheer scale of the impending crisis, the investors decided to liquidate their assets and run for the hills before the market collapsed.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    break into a run

    To start running.

  2. 02

    common run

    Ordinary persons, things, or events.

  3. 03

    dry run

    A practice or rehearsal; especially, one that goes through all the motions of a physical process but without the raw material or workpiece present.

  4. 04

    dummy run

    A trial or practice before the real attempt.

  5. 05

    gold in them thar hills

    An opportunity for something to be profitable and/or beneficial.

  6. 06

    good run

    Success over an extended period.

  7. 07

    head for the hills

    To go to a safe place; to seek refuge; to flee.

  8. 08

    hill to die on

    An issue to pursue with a wholehearted conviction or a single-minded focus, with little or no regard to the cost and no intent of equivocation or compromise.

Last updated April 17, 2026