Lena had always taken the same path home through the park. Quiet. Peaceful. Familiar.

But that Tuesday evening, the clouds hung heavy, and the path felt… off. She checked her phone. Battery at 2%. Great.

Halfway through, she heard something. Footsteps? She stopped walking. Silence. Then again—soft, hurried steps behind her.

Her heart raced. She looked over her shoulder. Nothing. “Don’t jump to conclusions,” she told herself, picking up her pace.

But the steps came faster now.

That’s when she saw a side trail—narrow, muddy, barely lit. A shortcut to the main road. She hesitated. Then the footsteps came louder. No more thinking.

She hightailed it down the trail, slipping on leaves and branches whipping her arms.

At the other end, she burst out onto the main road, panting. A cyclist slowed down. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she gasped. “Just… went off the beaten path.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Not the smartest move at this hour.”

“No kidding,” she said. “But I’m fine. Just needed to shake off some nerves.”

The cyclist smiled. “Well, better safe than sorry.”

“Exactly,” she replied, still catching her breath.

That night, under her warm blanket, Lena smiled to herself. “Maybe I watch too many crime shows,” she thought. “But when your gut says run—better safe than sorry.”

Idioms Used in the Story

1. Hightail it

Meaning: 

To leave or run away very quickly.

Example 1: As soon as the storm started, we hightailed it back to the car.
Example 2: He saw the dog chasing him and hightailed it out of there.

2. Don’t jump to conclusions

Meaning: 

Don’t assume something without all the facts.

Example 1: She didn’t reply—don’t jump to conclusions, maybe she’s busy.
Example 2: Let’s wait for the full report before jumping to conclusions.

3. Off the beaten path

Meaning: 

In a place not commonly visited; unusual or remote.

Example 1: We found a beautiful café off the beaten path in Rome.
Example 2: She always prefers traveling off the beaten path.

4. Better safe than sorry

Meaning: 

It’s wiser to be cautious than to risk danger or trouble.

Example 1: I always double-check the door—better safe than sorry.
Example 2: Take your umbrella. It might not rain, but better safe than sorry.

5. No kidding

Meaning: 

Used to express agreement, surprise, or to emphasize something obvious.

Example 1: “It’s freezing outside!” “No kidding!”
Example 2: “That test was brutal.” “No kidding, I barely finished it.”