Take a powder

Macdonald spoke slowly, bitterly. "The kidnapping is one too many for me, Costello. I don't want any part of it. I'm takin' a powder from this toy mob. I took a chance that bright boy might side me."

First Mrs Hitchcock packed up and took a powder, and there was hell to pay.

Our idea was that once the storm had subsided we'd take a powder one night with our dough. . . We'd take our stuff and give ourselves a change of air. . . move to a different neighborhood.

"Mr. Tilton said you told him you would take a powder." "Take a powder?" said Henry. "I once heard a man from Nevada tell me he would take a powder, meaning he was leaving town."

But when you suffer losses, Uncle Sam may take a powder.

Go on, now. Scram. Take a powder. And don't come back till people on the street start wishing you a good afternoon.