Filer - to split

filer means a lot of different things, many of which have to do with to leave a place, to run away from a place. filer en douce means to leave a room unnoticed. Filer à l’anglaise I think is translated by to take a French leave – that’s ironic – leaving without saying goodbye, in a somewhat rude way. Filer en catastrophe means to have to leave abruptly.

« Ils ont eu un coup de fil et ont dû filer en catastrophe. »

“They got a phone call and had to split in a jiffy.”

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