flee helter-skelter; scamper away like a frightened rat
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to flee in utter confusion; to run away like a frightened rat
literaryThis idiom vividly describes someone escaping in a panic, often after a defeat or when caught red-handed. It emphasizes a complete loss of composure and dignity, similar to a rat scurrying away with its head down.
Tīng听
dào到
jǐng警
dí笛
shēng声
，
nà那
jǐ几
ge个
xiǎo小
tōu偷
xià吓
dé得
bào抱
tóu头
shǔ鼠
cuàn窜
。
Hearing the police siren, the thieves were scared and fled helter-skelter.
Wǒ我
jūn军
fā发
qǐ起
chōng冲
fēng锋
，
dí敌
rén人
bèi被
dǎ打
dé得
bào抱
tóu头
shǔ鼠
cuàn窜
。
Our army launched a charge, and the enemy was beaten into a panicked, disorderly retreat.
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Lǎo老
shī师
yī一
jìn进
jiào教
shì室
，
nà那
jǐ几
ge个
dǎo捣
luàn乱
de的
xué学
sheng生
lì立
kè刻
bào抱
tóu头
shǔ鼠
cuàn窜
。
As soon as the teacher entered the classroom, the troublemaking students immediately scampered away in confusion.