Idiom
Take a hike
Take a hike is a rude way of telling someone to go away or leave you alone.
How people use it
People say it when they are annoyed with someone or want them gone: If he keeps bothering you, tell him to take a hike. It is informal and impolite, though often used jokingly among friends or family. It can also be used to reject an offer or idea. It is not an invitation to go walking in nature, though people sometimes play on that. Similar phrases include get lost and beat it. Avoid it with strangers, customers or anyone you need to be polite to.
Examples
- When the salesman kept calling, Dad finally told him to take a hike.
- My little brother kept reading my diary, so I told him to take a hike.
- Grace told the pushy pigeon to take a hike when it tried to steal her sandwich.
Where it comes from
The phrase is American and became common in the mid-1900s. It takes hike, a long walk, and turns it into a blunt way of saying walk away from here. No special story lies behind it.
Check yourself
1. If someone tells you to take a hike, what do they want?
Answer: They want you to go away. Take a hike is a rude way to say go away.
2. In which situation is take a hike most suitable?
Answer: Joking with a close friend who is teasing you. Because it is rude, it fits casual moments with people who know you're joking.
Similar idioms
Word game fan? See every word hiding in HIKE.