What it means
To scarper is to bolt, leg it, or make yourself disappear sharpish, usually when trouble, the bill, or the police show up. It’s a quick, slightly cheeky getaway rather than a tidy goodbye. Often heard as scarper off when someone wants you gone. Folk reckon it links to Italian scappare, and it’s still a pub-and-playground classic.
Usage examples
"We’d barely sat down when the manager came over waving CCTV stills, so we scarpered out the fire exit and onto the night bus."
"The lads heard the bus coming and scarpered across the road, bags flying, just making the doors in time."
"He scarpered the moment the bill arrived, left me sitting there with my wallet and a face like thunder."
Where it comes from
Classic British slang, most likely from the Polari word scarper, lifted from the Italian scappare, to escape. Some swear it is wartime rhyming slang from Scapa Flow, meaning go. Either way, to scarper is to leg it sharpish, clear off before trouble or a bill catches up with you.
Other ways to say it
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