word

Eject

Leave a situation suddenly, especially a bad one.

Origin

Modern fighter cockpits have an ejection seat — a rocket-propelled chair that blasts the pilot clear of a doomed aircraft and deploys a parachute automatically. Before they existed, pilots had to climb out, jump, and hope the slipstream didn't kill them.

Modern usage

Used jokingly about leaving any uncomfortable situation — a meeting, a date, a party, a group chat. 'I had to eject' = 'I bailed.' Tone is almost always rueful and self-aware.

In the wild

Ten minutes into the conversation about crypto, I ejected.— common usage

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