like a bat out of hell
1
with great speed
The idiom "like a bat out of hell" likely originated from the association of bats with darkness and their rapid, unpredictable flight patterns. Bats are known for their swift and agile flight, and the phrase conveys the idea of something or someone moving with extraordinary speed, urgency, or haste, as if escaping from a dangerous or chaotic situation. This idiomatic expression is used to describe something or someone moving extremely quickly, often with a sense of urgency or recklessness. It emphasizes the high speed and lack of restraint.
- Scared, he ran out of the house like a bat out of hell.
- She tore across the highway like a bat out of hell.I nearly ploughed right into her.
- When the fire alarm went off, the students rushed out of the building like bats out of hell.
- He drove his car out of the driveway like a bat out of hell, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
- She sprinted towards the finish line like a bat out of hell to win the race.