make (oneself) scarce

make (oneself) scarce

To leave, hide, or make oneself less visible, typically to avoid something. Lisa's fuming about your text message, so you better make yourself scarce until she calms down. Why is it that when there are chores to do, the kids somehow know to make themselves scarce?
See also: make, scarce
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

make oneself scarce

Fig. [for someone] to become difficult to find; [for someone to] go into hiding. Tom is mad and is looking for you. Better make yourself scarce. Make yourself scarce! Here comes the sheriff.
See also: make, scarce
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

make oneself scarce

Depart quickly, go away, as in The children saw Mrs. Frost coming and made themselves scarce. This idiom applies scarce in the sense of "seldom seen" to removing one's presence. [c. 1800]
See also: make, scarce
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

make yourself scarce

surreptitiously disappear; keep out of the way. informal
See also: make, scarce
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌmake yourself ˈscarce

(informal) leave the place you are in in order to avoid an embarrassing or difficult situation: I could see they wanted to be alone, so I made myself scarce.
See also: make, scarce
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

make oneself scarce

tv. to leave; to be in a place less frequently; to be less in evidence. Here come the boys in blue. I’d better make myself scarce.
See also: make, scarce
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

make (oneself) scarce

Informal
1. To stay away; be absent or elusive.
2. To depart, especially quickly or furtively; abscond.
See also: make, scarce
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • make oneself scarce
  • make scarce
  • make yourself scarce
  • leave (someone, something, or oneself) (wide) open for (something)
  • leave oneself wide open for
  • kick (oneself) for (doing something)
  • selfie
  • wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
  • wash your hands of somebody/something
  • wash your hands of something/someone