bug out

verb

bugged out; bugging out; bugs out

intransitive verb

1

: to retreat during a military action

especially : to flee in panic

2

: to depart especially in a hurry

bugout

ˈbəg-ˌau̇t 

noun

Synonyms

• bolt
• break
• flee
• fly
• hightail (it)
• retreat
• run
• run away
• run off
• skedaddle

Examples of bug out in a Sentence

the ground soldiers bugged out just before the start of the aerial bombing

the strange visitor bugged out without so much as saying a word

Recent Examples on the Web

While Kyle helpfully sucks a bug out of Fraser’s drink, and Dylan and Anthony stake their romantic claims on the replacement stew who has not even arrived yet, Ben spends time with Xandi. —Molly Fitzpatrick, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2024

Elsewhere in the stream, Kodak attempts to have a normal conversation with the Twitch streamer before totally bugging out, protruding his eyes with a face full of sweat. —Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024

My eyes bugged out of my head like a cartoon character. —R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2024

The mesh is extremely tightly woven and incredibly effective at keeping bugs out. —Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1