exit stage left

An allusion to stage directions in theater, indicating when (and where) an actor should leave the stage from a scene.

1. noun A timely and inconspicuous exit or departure, done so as not to make a scene or attract attention to oneself. When the rally was interrupted by protesters, the senatorial candidate made a quick exit stage left to avoid undue media attention. Governor Peters, you can't just make an exit stage left—your constituents demand answers! We need to make an exit stage left before these reporters see us and start asking us questions.

2. verb To leave in a timely and inconspicuous manner, so as not to make a scene or attract attention to oneself. (Sometimes used as an imperative.) The CEO decided to exit stage left from the company before his embezzlements became too noticeable. I suggest you exit stage left before I lose my temper. We need to exit stage left before these reporters see us and start asking us questions.

exit stage right

An allusion to stage directions in theater, indicating when (and where) an actor should leave the stage from a scene.

1. noun A timely and inconspicuous exit or departure, done so as not to make a scene or attract attention to oneself. When the rally was interrupted by protesters, the senatorial candidate made a quick exit stage right to avoid undue media attention. Governor Peters, you can't just make an exit stage right—your constituents demand answers! We need to make an exit stage right before these reporters see us and start asking us questions.

2. verb To leave in such a manner. Sometimes used as an imperative or exclamation. The CEO decided to exit stage right from the company before his embezzlements became too noticeable. I suggest you exit stage right before I lose my temper. We need to exit stage right before these reporters see us and start asking us questions.

head for the (nearest) exit

1. To depart from some place very hastily, as if fleeing. I'm nervous about taking my new girlfriend to dinner with my parents. If my dad starts telling his stupid jokes, I'm afraid she'll be heading for the nearest exit. If we sound as bad as our sound check, people will head for the exit after the first few notes! At the sound of police sirens, all of the partygoers headed for the nearest exit.

2. To depart or disengage from some situation, arrangement, obligation, etc. All the controversy surrounding the company has prompted many of its financial partners to head for the exit. You better head for the nearest exit, like, now, because I hear you're all getting laid off after the company is acquired. I know you're having problems in your marriage, but you can't just head for the nearest exit when things get hard!

make a grand exit

To depart from some place or situation in a very dramatic, ostentatious, or conspicuous manner. I do want to make a grand exit from our wedding reception, but the thought of releasing doves and having them flying around us just freaks me out. The athlete made a grand exit in the final game of her career, scoring a record seven goals with an incredible 23 shots on goal.

make an/(one's) exit

1. To depart from some place. A: "This party's pretty dull, isn't it?" B: "Sure is. Let's stay a little bit longer, just to be polite, and then we can make our exit." I tried making a subtle exit, but I tripped on a box near the door and ended up getting the attention of the entire office.

2. To depart from some group, market, platform, etc. The company signaled that it would be making an exit from the television industry, pivoting to a focus on online media. With the passage of this final piece of legislation, the country has officially made its exit from the political bloc.

run for the (nearest) exit(s)

1. To depart or seek to escape from some place very hastily, as if fleeing. I'm nervous about taking my new girlfriend to dinner with my parents. If my dad starts telling his stupid jokes, I'm afraid she'll want to run for the nearest exit. If we sound as bad as our sound check, people will run for the exits after the first few notes!

2. To depart or disengage from some situation, arrangement, obligation, etc. All the controversy surrounding the company has sent many of its financial partners running for the nearest exits.

exit

(from something) (to something) to go out of something or some place to another. The children exited from the school to the parking lot when the fire alarm rang. We exited to the main street from the parking lot.

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References in periodicals archive

At the height in one given year in Coventry, [pounds sterling]10.86m was paid in exit packages in 2014/15, but packages reduced greatly at the authority last year with [pounds sterling]743,000 awarded.

Payouts to departing council staff cost taxpayers [pounds sterling]46.8m in eight years; A former chief finance officer left with almost half a million pounds

Likewise, architect Ashutosh Singh says exit polls just mean crystal ball gazing and not necessarily the writing on the wall.

India exit polls: Structured questionnaire is the key

The Jery Al Dabi Interchange -- Exit 57 is only signalised interchange on the 'Al Majd Road' and Truck Route project.

Al Majd Road includes 21 interchanges

The first step is to collect data for VISSIM such as locations of emergency exits, locations of evacuees, locations of emergency exit guidance points, number of evacuees, travel distances, time to arrive emergency exits, and evacuation parameters.

Applied Artificial Bee Colony Optimization Algorithm in Fire Evacuation Routing System

With seven years on average to exit many investments are likely to come to fruition in the coming years while the MENA region continues grow and develop awaiting its first Unicorn exit or startup IPO.

Start-up exits across MENA over last five years aggregate over $3 billion

Less progress has been made in relation to exit. Thus, over the course of six decades, the Indian economy moved from 'socialism with limited entry to "marketism" without exit', it added.

Economic Survey: Govt taking steps to facilitate 'exit' for failed ventures

Let's look at how you can protect your wealth by understanding the exit planning process in order to build and execute a customized exit strategy plan.

Proper planning prevents predictably poor performance: the six P's of business exit and succession planning process

There are no signs telling those people on level 1 which way to exit ?

Car park concerns; FEEDBACK

An antiseptic solution is recommended for exit site care to reduce numbers of microorganisms and avoid ESIs.

Can 2% chlorhexidine aqueous solution provide better infection control in PD exit site care when compared with 10% povidone-iodine: a single unit experience

MOTORISTS are being warned of roadworks starting next week which could affect their journeys, The work, starting on Monday, will be to resurface the roundabouts and entry and exit slip roads at the Stannington interchange, on the A1 north of Newcastle.

Motorists warned about roadworks

When the new system goes live, there will be no tolls between Exit 10 (Interstates 290 and 395 in Auburn), Exit 10A (Route 146) and Exit 11 (Millbury and Worcester).

Electronic system for Pike gets closer

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF AN EXIT PIPE ON THE CALCULATION OF DRAINAGE TIME OF WATER FROM A TANK USING BERNOULLI'S EQUATION.

Investigation of the effects of an exit pipe on the calculation of drainage time of water from a tank using Bernoulli's equation

OSHA Issues New Initiative to Enforce Exit Route Standards

On the hill