What is "fly the coop"

vb. 1 (context idiomatic English) To depart hastily or unannounced; to escape or flee. 2 (context of a bird English) To escape from a pen or similar enclosure.

v. flee; take to one's heels; cut and run; "If you see this man, run!"; "The burglars escaped before the police showed up" [syn: run, scarper, turn tail, lam, run away, hightail it, bunk, head for the hills, take to the woods, escape, break away]