- Rude and dismissive commands telling someone to go away immediately because they are annoying or unwanted.
Explanation
Origin
- Get lost implies disappearing, becoming lost to the speaker.
- Take a hike likely emerged in the early 20th century, suggesting a long walk away, perhaps deriving from the idea of sending someone on a pointless errand or just far away.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Bounce. (Meaning 'leave')
- Kick rocks. (Dismissive, telling someone to go do something pointless, often away from the speaker.)
- Make like a tree and leave. (Playful/corny pun, dated)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fuck off.
- Piss off. (Common in UK/Aus/NZ)
- Get the fuck out. / GTFO. (Online abbreviation)
Milder/More Polite:
- Please leave.
- I need some space right now.
- Could you please go?
- I'd like to be alone.
Situational Appropriateness
- Rude and informal.
- Used in anger or extreme annoyance.
- Should be avoided in almost all situations, especially professional or polite ones, as it's highly disrespectful.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The meaning is clear (go away), but the rudeness might be underestimated by learners.
- It's not a polite suggestion.
Examples
- Stop bothering me! Get lost!
- A: Can I borrow some money? B: Take a hike, I told you no yesterday.
- He kept following us, so we told him to get lost.
Dialogue
Person A: Hey, can you spare some change? Please?
Person B: (Annoyed) Look, I'm busy. Get lost.
Person A: But I just need a little help...
Person B: Take a hike! Leave me alone!
Social Media Examples
- # (Less common to type directly unless in a heated argument or quoting)
- Quoting a movie: 'Get lost, squidward!'
- Rant post: To the person who keeps spamming my DMs: Get lost!
- Story: Told my annoying coworker to take a hike (metaphorically, of course... mostly).
Response Patterns
- The person told to leave might leave angrily or reluctantly.
- They might respond with hostility: Make me! or Screw you!
- They might be hurt or confused, depending on the context.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing this:
- Often, the interaction ends there, with the person leaving or an argument escalating.
- The person telling someone to leave might turn their back or walk away themselves.
- If the person doesn't leave, the situation might escalate (I said, get lost!).
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's a command to end interaction.
Intonation
- Said with anger, annoyance, or dismissal. Sharp, forceful tone.
- Stress on lost and hike. Get LOST! / Take a HIKE!
Generation Differences
- Both are well-understood across generations, though they might sound slightly dated (Take a hike more so than Get lost) to younger speakers, who might prefer Go away or stronger alternatives.
Regional Variations
- Both are common in North American English. Get lost is universal. Take a hike is also widely understood.
- UK/Aus/NZ equivalents like Piss off or Sod off (UK) are also common in those regions.