# run for the hills

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/run-for-the-hills
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To flee.

## Examples

- When the dog started barking, the cat ran for the hills.
- As soon as the manager mentioned the extra weekend work, most of the staff wanted to run for the hills.
- 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.

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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.