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to move hurriedly, especially to escape or to leave a place abruptly
What does "to scram" mean in slang?
The structure is a simple verb, likely a shortened or altered form of "scramble," stripping the ending for a sharper, quicker command. It is used to describe moving hurriedly, especially to escape or to leave a place abruptly, often as an imperative telling someone to get out fast. People typically say "scram!" when they want someone to leave immediately, such as "The cops are coming, scram!" or "I told him to scram and leave me alone." The term originated in early 20th century American slang, possibly from "scramble" or from the German "schramm" (to depart), and became popular in mid 20th century films, comics, and casual speech.
