hop the twig
obsolete
1. To die. The poor man lay in bed for nearly a fortnight, out of his mind with fever and delirium. Finally, in the early hours of Friday, he hopped the twig and passed into a peaceful, eternal sleep. You better slow down on that horse, unless you plan to hop the twig early! It's incredibly tragic that so many men had to hop the twig during the war.
2. To leave something or some place very quickly or suddenly. Investigators believe the money lender hopped the twig to America after suspicions about the legality of his business arose. A: "I didn't see you at the gala last night." B: "Yes, well, I hopped the twig as soon as Edgar arrived. I just couldn't bear to be around my former fiancé." Mother, you can't hop the twig, the bankers will be here any moment.
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