hit the road

Meaning

To depart, begin a journey, or leave a place, typically by car. It is a casual and friendly idiom often used when you are ready to start a road trip or simply need to go home.

Examples

• We should hit the road early tomorrow to avoid the morning traffic.

  We should hit the road early tomorrow to avoid the morning traffic.

• It's getting late, so I think it's time for us to hit the road.

  It's getting late, so I think it's time for us to hit the road.

• Pack your bags, because we are hitting the road first thing in the morning!

  Pack your bags, because we are hitting the road first thing in the morning!

• I love to hit the road with nothing but a map and some good music.

  I love to hit the road with nothing but a map and some good music.

• After saying goodbye to everyone, they finally hit the road.

  After saying goodbye to everyone, they finally hit the road.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We hit the road by plane to Paris.

  ✓ We flew to Paris.

  'Hit the road' specifically implies traveling on land, usually by driving or walking, not flying.

• ✗ I need to hit a road now.

  ✓ I need to hit the road now.

  This idiom is a fixed phrase and always uses the definite article 'the'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Let's ___ before the rush hour starts.

  💡 Start our journey.

  Show answer

  hit the road

• It's past midnight, so I really need to ___.

  💡 Leave and go home.

  Show answer

  hit the road