chicken run
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The act of "gapping it", i.e. emigrating from Rhodesia as a white inhabitant during the country's transition to independence.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
By 1979, thousands had 'gapped it', or taken the 'chicken run', as emigration was derisively known […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “chicken run” mean?
The act of "gapping it", i.e. emigrating from Rhodesia as a white inhabitant during the country's transition to independence.
Is “chicken run” formal or informal?
chicken run is generally slang.