Salir por patas

to run away; **to run away**; **to make a run for it**; **to make a quick getaway**; **to get out of there**; **to beat a hasty retreat**

Salir por patas means to run away, to make a quick getaway, to flee, or to get out of there fast.

It often implies leaving hurriedly because something has become dangerous, uncomfortable or threatening.

• runs away from danger
• escapes from a fight or confrontation
• leaves a place very quickly
• gets away before something unpleasant happens
• flees from an embarrassing or awkward situation

The expression is based on a simple physical image: when someone needs to escape quickly, they use their legs to run away.

Patas normally refers to the legs of an animal, although it can be used colloquially for human legs.

The deliberately animal-like expression adds a humorous, informal tone.

Salir por patas often conveys more urgency than simply irse.

Compare:

Se fue.

→ He left.

with:

Salió por patas.

→ He made a run for it / He got out of there fast.

It suggests that the person wanted to get away as quickly as possible.

Spanish has many colourful expressions meaning "to run away":

• Salir por patas → to make a run for it.
• Poner pies en polvorosa → to flee.
• Tomar las de Villadiego → to make oneself scarce.
• Salir pitando → to dash off.
• Salir disparado → to shoot off.

Salir por patas is among the most transparent: when trouble arrives, you simply put your legs to work and get out of there. ```

Do not translate:

Salió por patas.

as:

He left through legs.

Instead, use:

He made a run for it.

He ran away.

He got out of there fast.