Leg It

Leg It (verb / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: Legged it, Legging it, Do a runner)

Definition:

Leg it means to run away fast, usually to escape trouble or avoid getting caught. You might leg it from a ball that smashed a window, from the rain or from a bill. It is a playful, very British way of saying “run”.

Where Leg It Comes From:

The phrase uses “legs” as a verb, meaning to use your legs to go fast. It has been recorded in British English since the 1800s and is still a staple of everyday speech. “Legging it” also appears in children’s games, comedies and crime dramas.

How People Actually Use Leg It:

People say it when they flee: “we knocked on the door and legged it”. It is a childhood classic, linked to knock-and-run pranks. It can also describe leaving quickly for a good reason, such as legging it for the last train.

Is Leg It the Same as Do a Runner?

Similar, but “do a runner” usually means leaving without paying, while “leg it” just means running away.

Examples in the Wild:

• “The alarm went off, so we legged it.”

  Meaning: We ran away quickly.

• “I had to leg it to catch the bus.”

  Meaning: I ran so I would not miss it.

• “He saw the teacher and legged it.”

  Meaning: He bolted to avoid getting caught.

Similar Slang:

Scrap, Blag, Bobby, Five-O, Dodgy, Sorted

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