# duck out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/duck-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to leave a place or a situation quickly or secretly, often without being noticed. You use this when you want to escape a boring meeting or leave a party early.

For teachers: To depart from a location or social engagement abruptly or surreptitiously. Often used to imply an avoidance of obligation or a desire for privacy.

## Examples

- I usually duck out of work early on Fridays.
- We managed to duck out of the wedding reception before the long speeches started.
- As the debate grew increasingly hostile, several committee members chose to duck out, citing prior commitments to avoid being associated with the controversial final decision.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He ducked out the room." but "He ducked out of the room." — When followed by a noun, the preposition 'of' is required.

## Usage notes

- Usually followed by 'of' when mentioning the place or event you are leaving.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'slip away' or 'sneak out'; 'duck out' often implies a quick, pragmatic exit to avoid something tedious.

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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.