take flight

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take flight (third-person singular simple present takes flight, present participle taking flight, simple past took flight, past participle taken flight)

1. (idiomatic) To begin flying; to become airborne or aloft; to take off and fly

   Though the bird is still young, in a day or two it will spread its wing and take flight for the first time.

2. (idiomatic) to flee

   The criminals took flight as soon as they heard the sirens.

• (to flee): fly