hop the twig

verb

Synonym of run away, (originally) especially from creditors.

Similar
run awayplay truantto avoid or run away from schooldie
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbhop the twig (third-person singular simple present hops the twig, present participle hopping the twig, simple past and past participle hopped the twig)

present singular third person hops the twig · participle present hopping the twig · participle past hopped the twig · past hopped the twig

  1. archaicslangSynonym of run away, (originally) especially from creditors.

    Synonyms: run away

  2. archaicslangSynonym of play truant, to avoid or run away from school.

    Synonyms: play truant, to avoid or run away from school

  3. archaiceuphemisticSynonym of die.

    Synonyms: die

Synonyms & antonyms

verbSynonym of run away, (originally) especially from creditors.

Similar
run away

verbSynonym of play truant, to avoid or run away from school.

Similar
play truantto avoid or run away from school

verbSynonym of die.

Similar
die
Also see
beakdieplay truantrun away

Origin

Originally in reference to a bird eluding hunters by hopping branches.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

hop the twig. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hop%20the%20twig

MLA

“hop the twig.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hop%20the%20twig. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hop the twig,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hop%20the%20twig.

Source: hop the twig on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.