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Skedaddle vs Runaway - What's the difference?

skedaddle | runaway |

As a verb skedaddle

is to move or run away quickly.

As a noun runaway is

a person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes limitations.

skedaddle

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To move or run away quickly.
    • The sheep skedaddled as soon as the shepherd’s dog came near .

    Synonyms

    * (move or run away quickly) flee, vamoose, scat, take off, make tracks, get lost

    See also

    *

    References

    * 1897 Hunter, Robert, and Charles Morris (editors), Universal Dictionary of the English Language'', v4, p4291: "Etym. doubtful; perhaps allied to ''scud . To betake one's self hurriedly to flight; to run away as in a panic; to fly in terror. (A word of American origin.)" * Fanciful 19th century American coinages

    runaway

    English

    Alternative forms

    * run-away

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes limitations.
    • Runaway children are vulnerable to criminal exploitation.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thou runaway , thou coward, art thou fled?
  • *
  • A train that is out of control.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • (usually attributive) An object or process that is out of control or out of equilibrium.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • The act of running away, especially of a horse or teams.
    • There was a runaway yesterday.
  • An overwhelming victory.
    • The home side won in a runaway .

    Usage notes

    This word is frequently used attributively, as in "runaway X" to mean "an X which has run away" or "an X which is out of control".

    Related terms

    * run away