pull up stakes

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pull up stakes (third-person singular simple present pulls up stakes, present participle pulling up stakes, simple past and past participle pulled up stakes)

1. (idiomatic) To prepare to move one's (usually temporary) habitation, especially rapidly.

   They just pulled up stakes and left.

   • 2006 November 30, Paul Solotaroff, “Can Nate Ybanez Ever Be FORGIVEN?”, in Rolling Stone, pages 84–128:

     From the start of their strange and embattled marriage, they established a pattern of suddenly pulling up stakes with little notice to family members or neighbors.

• up sticks