Hightail it

Hi and welcome to English Forums.

I don't think I've ever said this without the "it."

We've got to hightail it out of here!

Thank you, Grammar Geek.

I'm wondering what the "it" means.

When we're talking about idioms, sometimes it's best to just accept them as a whole and not question them too much. As Clive taught me to say, sometimes we say it that way, just because we say it that way, and it's become the accepted way to say it.

It's a very casual expression, by the way. You wouldn't say in a formal write-up about an accident at work "So we hightailed it out of there

I would appreciate it if you could tell me what "it" in "hightail it" means.

HUBLOTI would appreciate it if you could tell me what "it" in "hightail it" means.

It refers generally to the flight or escape. The running away.

CJ