- To begin a journey or trip; to leave a place.
Explanation
Origin
- Literally refers to one's feet (or later, vehicle tires) making contact with the road surface when starting to travel.
- Popularized in the early 20th century, possibly coinciding with increased travel by automobiles.
- Often used when ending a visit or starting a trip.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Let's bounce (leave quickly)
- Time to dip (leave, often discreetly)
- Let's jet (leave quickly)
- Gotta roll / Time to roll (need to leave)
- Let's make like a tree and leave (playful, punny)
- Peace out (informal departure, sometimes associated with youth culture)
Vulgar/Emphatic (More about leaving a place urgently/unhappily):
- Let's get the fuck out of here.
- Time to blow this popsicle stand (humorous, informal way to say leave)
Milder/Standard:
- Time to leave.
- We should get going.
- Let's head off now.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Generally acceptable in most social situations and casual work environments when leaving.
- Might be too informal for very formal departures (e.g., leaving a state dinner).
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Very unlikely to be misunderstood by native speakers.
- Non-native speakers might initially imagine physically striking the road, but the context usually makes the meaning clear.
Examples
- It's getting late, we should hit the road.
- We need to hit the road early tomorrow to avoid traffic.
- Alright team, pack it up, time to hit the road!
Dialogue
Sarah: Wow, it's already 11 PM!
Mark: Yeah, time flies. We should probably hit the road. Got an early start tomorrow.
Sarah: You're right. Let me just grab my jacket.
Mark: Okay, I'll meet you by the door.
Social Media Examples
- Post: Epic weekend with the crew! Sad it's over, but time to hit the road. #RoadTrip #WeekendVibes #BackToReality
- Tweet: Early morning flight tomorrow. Need to hit the road for the airport at 4 AM. 😴 #Travel #EarlyBird
- Instagram Story caption (over a picture of a packed car): And we're off! Time to hit the road! 🚗💨
Response Patterns
- Okay, let's go.
- Alright, I'm ready.
- Just give me five minutes.
- Sounds good. See you later. (If others are staying)
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says Time to hit the road:
- Gathering belongings (coats, bags, keys).
- Saying final goodbyes.
- Confirming destination or route (Which way are we going?).
- Checking the time.
After agreeing (Okay, let's go):
- Standing up, moving towards the exit.
- Asking practical questions (Do you need help carrying anything?).
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Usually used to signal the end of an interaction or the start of a departure.
Intonation
- Typically, emphasis falls on road. Hit the ROAD.
- Can be said casually or with a sense of urgency depending on context.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across most generations.
- Perhaps slightly more common among Gen X and Boomers, but still very current.
Regional Variations
- Very common in American English.
- Understood and used in other English-speaking regions like the UK, Canada, and Australia, though alternatives might be more frequent locally.