Flying The Coop

The expression fly the coop is based on the image of a chicken flying out of its pen; however, coop was a slang term for jail in the 1800s. The first uses of the term fly the coop appear around the turn of the twentieth century and are used in reference to someone escaping from jail. Related phrases are flies the coop, flew the coop, has flown the coop, flying the coop. Take care.