prendre le large

The informal French expression “prendre le large” translates literally to “to take the open sea”. As a noun, le large describes the high seas.

Example sentences:

• Le cambrioleur de banque a pris le large avec les les sacs d’argent. The bank robber ran off with the money bags.
• L’Estonia a coulé quand elle a pris large dans la mer Baltique. The Estonia sank when it sailed into the Baltic Sea.

Related expressions:

prendre ses jambes à son cou – to make a run for it, run for your life