Slang

scarper

This page is about the slang term scarper

British English

Meaning

to run away

For example

  • Here comes that dopey twit Barnes. Let's scarper before he sees us.

  • When they heard the police siren in the distance, the burglars got out of the house they were robbing and scarpered. They were very grateful to the police for giving them the warning.

Origin: from British cockney rhyming slang "scarpa flow", meaning "go"

Variety

This is typically used in British English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

The kids who were smoking scarpered because

a. the cigarettes were really strong

b. a teacher was coming

c. they didn't want to smell of smoke
a) the cigarettes were really strong b) a teacher was coming c) they didn't want to smell of smoke

See Slang of the Day today

Contributor: Matt Errey