Get out of Dodge

[Anakin59]

According to MerriamWebster, get out of Dodge is "to leave or get out in a hurry."
I wonder if one could say "get out of dodge from something" like
getting out of dodge from your fears

 

[panjandrum]

Dodge, here, is probably a reference to Dodge City.
So to "... get out of Dodge," could be an idiomatic phrase, meaning to leave town in a hurry - an allusion to ancient, black and white, cowboy films.
If that is correct, then your suggested example would not be correct.

 

[Dimcl]

According to MerriamWebster, get out of Dodge is "to leave or get out in a hurry."
I wonder if one could say "get out of dodge from something" like
getting out of dodge from your fears

As Panj says, this is an allusion to the old western movies whereby the good Sheriff of Dodge City (it could be any old west town but it's often "Dodge City") chases the bad guys out of Dodge. Because this is where this saying comes from "Dodge" is always capitalized and does not mean "to dodge" something. The phrase would be used in this way:

1st Person: "Man, I think that store security guard is looking at us funny. Do you think he knows that we're shoplifting?"
2nd Person: "I don't know but if we're going to get away with it, we'd better get out of Dodge right now"

The answer to your question, therefore, is that you cannot use this phrase for something like getting away from your fears.

 

[Joelline]

Hi,

I've heard "Get out of Dodge" since I was a child--primarily used in cowboy movies in the US. It is frequently used as a command in sentences such as, "Get out of Dodge by noon or face the consequences."

I suppose it could be used figuratively to mean "to leave or get out in a hurry," but this is not common.

 

[Dimcl]

Hi,

I've heard "Get out of Dodge" since I was a child--primarily used in cowboy movies in the US. It is frequently used as a command in sentences such as, "Get out of Dodge by noon or face the consequences."

I suppose it could be used figuratively to mean "to leave or get out in a hurry," but this is not common.

Actually, it's quite common in my neck of the woods, Joelline. You hear it from kids on the playgrounds, in school, etc. Anytime one of them jumps on a bike with a gang of friends to go zooming around the neighbourhood, the rallying cry is "Let's get out of Dodge".

 

[Anakin59]

Thank you guys

 

[bibliolept]

Sometimes "get out of Dodge" simply means leaving somewhere, not necessarily fleeing or even moving in a hurry.

 

[river]

Get out of Dodge by noon or face. . .

Customarily, one had until sundown.

 

[domangelo]

Dodge is a pretty dangerous place, lots of gunplay at the local saloon, and duels at high noon, that sort of thing. Get out of Dodge is to get out of harm's way.

 

[cuchuflete]

The expression has been and is still used simply to mean, Let's leave.

Let's get out of Dodge.
Let's blow this pop stand.
Let's go.
We're outta here! (We are out of here!)

All of these mean the same thing. In addition, the expression can mean to leave to avoid trouble.

I hear it said by young people in this fairly rural community.

 

[sdgraham]

Note that Dodge City, Kansas is very real and has a very real history apart from the glamorization in films and apparently was about as wild as one could get. Click HERE.

Nowadays, of course, it's also a tourist attraction, like Tombstone, Arizona.

 

[bibliolept]

From my reading of history, I understand that a lot of its reputation was perpetuated in attempts to promote tourism at the closing of its "wilder" times.

 

[SwissPete]

Does it have the same root at dodge in draft-dodger?

 

[sdgraham]

Does it have the same root at dodge in draft-dodger?

No, "Dodge" is an Anglo-Saxon proper name as well as verb meaning to evade.

If you will follow the link I provided, you will see that the town started out as Fort Dodge, which was named for one General Grenville M. Dodge.

 

[SwissPete]

No, "Dodge" is an Anglo-Saxon proper name as well as verb meaning to evade.

Thank you.

 

[CRISPY69]

Isn't it from Gunsmoke? To me, Dodge is New York in general, where I'm from, and anywhere north of 116th Street in Manhattan in specific. I'm in the process of getting out of Dodge, in the general sense, as we speak.

 

[Packard]

It is considerably older than Gunsmoke.

The scene that it brings to mind is the bad guy, (dressed in black) is facing off with the good guy (usually the sheriff). There is usually a deadline involved.

Sometimes there were two bad guys involved and then there would be the added line, "This town ain't big enough for the two of us."

And usually there would be the underlying threat of a gun fight and death.

Personally, I never say, "I'm getting out of Dodge." I usually say, "I'm bustin' out of this joint." And sometimes I add the uber-macho, "This place can't hold a man like me."

Addendum: I did a Google search and "Answer Maven" had Mitch state that the phrase figured prominently in Gunsmoke. He does not cite any sources for this statement. They may be the main promulgator of this, but certainly not the originator.

 

[OMT]

Note, that in modern use, you usually see it constructed as "get the hell out of Dodge."

 

[CRISPY69]

Sure, getting out of Dodge is retro, no doubt. When I bust out, I think I might neutralize the "of" to a schwa (atta) and a lot of people drop the "of" altogether for a more organic feel, but that could be regional (East New York vs. Eastern Long Island). Keep having fun. Gotta roll.

 

[CRISPY69]

To be honest, I usually "Get the fuck out of Dodge," but that's a question of register and depends on audience, you know?

 

[Packard]

To be honest, I usually "Get the fuck out of Dodge," but that's a question of register and depends on audience, you know?

It would be a different version of Gunsmoke than I was watching as a kid. (And Miss Kitty wasn't really a prostitute--just a friendly lady saloon owner.)