THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Hit the road
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To leave or start a journey
Usage note: keep in mind
Hit the road means leave or begin a journey in informal conversation. Use hit in both present and past forms. It often appears in suggestions such as let's hit the road. In some contexts, telling someone to hit the road can sound dismissive, so pay attention to tone.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We’d better hit the road before it gets dark.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We’d better ________ before it gets dark.
Show the answer
Hit the road — To leave or start a journey
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Hit the road” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To leave or start a journey
Compare: We’d better hit the road before it gets dark.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
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More examples in context
- We packed the car and hit the road before sunrise.
- It's a long drive, so let's hit the road soon.
Check your understanding
In 'Let's hit the road before traffic builds up,' does the speaker want to start travelling or stop travelling?
Check your answer
Start travelling. The phrase is a casual invitation to leave, with the traffic giving a reason to depart promptly.
Use it in your own words
Write one new situation where hit the road fits. Explain the situation in plain English first, then rewrite it using the expression. Check that the tone and meaning suit your audience.