TO MAKE ONE’S SELF SCARCE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To retire (GROSE).

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  1749.  SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 374. It was my fixed purpose to MAKE MYSELF SCARCE at Seville.

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  1812.  MARGRAVINE OF ANSPACH [C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), ii. 20], 6 Sept. I shall MAKE MYSELF VERY, VERY SCARCE, and live only for myself.

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  1821.  SCOTT, Kenilworth, iv. MAKE YOURSELF SCARCE—depart—vanish!

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  1836.  M. SCOTT, The Cruise of the Midge, 114. My fine fellow, you are a little off your cruising ground, so be MAKING YOURSELF SCARCE—Bolt—vanish—get on deck with you, or I shall be after swearing a very ugly oath.

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  1840.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (The Lay of St. Odille). Come, MAKE YOURSELVES SCARCE!—it is useless to stay.

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  1851–61.  H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, I. 265. I had warned her to MAKE HERSELF SCARCE at her earliest possible convenience.

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  1891.  Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 16 Jan. Now, bobbies, MAKE YOURSELVES SCARCE … you know this is a gentleman’s private apartment, and you’re trespassers.

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