# take a powder

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-a-powder
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To leave without saying goodbye; to leave quietly, to run away; to scram; to depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with the implication of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.

## Examples

- The party was boring, so he decided to take a powder.
- When the boss started asking difficult questions about the missing money, the manager took a powder and left the building.
- Rather than face the consequences of his failed project, he chose to take a powder, leaving his colleagues to explain the situation to the board.

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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.