French Expression · Intermediate
Prendre ses jambes à son cou
To take to one's heels / To run away quickly
Pronunciation: prahndr say jahmb ah sohn koo
Meaning
To flee or run away very quickly, often out of fear or urgency.
Example
Dès qu'il a vu la police, il a pris ses jambes à son cou.
As soon as he saw the police, he took to his heels.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Prendre ses jambes à son cou out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a intermediate-level French expression.