   Hit the Dusty Trail"Hit the dusty trail" is a Southern and American folk saying meaning to leave or set out on a journey. It evokes the image of travelers or cowhands kicking up dust as they depart. synonyms: depart, leave, set out, move along, travel Hillbilly Dude Says...  My brother always said he was gonna 'hit the dusty trail,' so I like this one. Hillbilly Dude Says... My brother always said he was gonna 'hit the dusty trail,' so I like this one. Pronunciation[HIT thuh DUHS-tee trayl] /hɪt ðə ˈdʌsti treɪl/ Meaning & Usage- To leave or set out on a journey (idiomatic verb phrase)
Mae:
You leavin’ already?
Earl:
Yep, time to hit the dusty trail ‘fore dark.variations: hit the road, head out, take off, light a shuck ★ When somebody says they’re fixin’ to "hit the dusty trail," it don’t always mean travel - it’s often just a polite, homespun way to say goodbye. ★ Origin and EtymologyThe phrase arose in the late 1800s American West, describing the literal dust raised by travelers and cattle drives. It spread through cowboy songs, dime novels, and early radio shows. By the early 1900s, it was widely used across the South and Appalachia as a colorful way to mean "depart." Its persistence in rural and colloquial Southern speech gives it an old-time, nostalgic tone today. Usage Notes
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