Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb UK, slang To
run away ; toflee ; toescape .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb flee; take to one's heels; cut and run
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Except (he didn't add) that instead of keeling over and dying like canaries, they trouser the money and scarper.
Current Affairs Maxine 2009
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Once the payment is made the rogue trader will scarper with the cash or carry out a botch job.
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Vertir doesn't want his mate Kuikin to come to such a toothsome end, to the decide to scarper.
Superhero Prose Fiction: Vertir and Kuikin - 3 Of Silence and the Man At Arms Blue Tyson 2008
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Except (he didn't add) that instead of keeling over and dying like canaries, they trouser the money and scarper.
Hearing the canary's song Maxine 2008
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When the time is right, they will scarper to their Antibes or Marbella.
Russia Breaks IKEA Walter Jon Williams 2010
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James watched a spider crawl out of her ear and scarper to her mouth, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Motherhood Gileadslostson 2010
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Except (he didn't add) that instead of keeling over and dying like canaries, they trouser the money and scarper.
Hearing the canary's song Maxine 2008
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James watched a spider crawl out of her ear and scarper to her mouth, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
Archive 2010-03-01 Gileadslostson 2010
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Except (he didn't add) that instead of keeling over and dying like canaries, they trouser the money and scarper.
September 2008 Maxine 2008
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Or are you going to scarper now the going's got tough?
On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2009
oroboros commented on the word scarper
From: http://www.phrases.org.uk
Meaning: Depart hastily.
Origin: From the Italian 'scappare' - to escape.
This has been in use since the 17th century. Swell's Night Guide, 1846 includes the quotation:
"He must hook it before 'day-light does appear', and then scarper by the back door."
September 15, 2007
reesetee commented on the word scarper
I'm wondering whether this word (and the Italian verb) is related to the Italian word for "shoe": scarpa. Will have to check....
September 15, 2007
seanahan commented on the word scarper
I thought this might be related to scamper, but the etymologies are quite different.
September 18, 2007
arby commented on the word scarper
Huh. I thought it was a recent Britlish invention.
*cue "The More You Know"*
October 4, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word scarper
"... an undeniably shabby Pool of London cab drawn up outside, with an equally shabby figure standing by it, slowly sorting English from Irish, Spanish and Moorish coins to pay the deeply suspicious driver, who had got down from his seat ... to make sure that his rum cove of a fare did not scarper."
--Patrick O'Brian, Blue at the Mizzen, 55
March 27, 2008
racheym commented on the word scarper
It's related to the Italian verb scappare, which means to run, escape etc. It entered the English language around the time of the 1st world war. Extended contact between English and Italian soldiers perhaps?
July 17, 2009
bodhik commented on the word scarper
Is it possible this usage derives from "scarp", meaning "the inside of a ditch used as fortification"? I mean, if someone ran away from a scarp, that would be to truly scarper!
June 25, 2019