jump bail
(also skip bail) (=not return for your trial as you promised)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

jump bail
to fail to appear in court after giving money to obtain your release before trial.
McPhee jumped bail and was never heard from again.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

jump bail
fail to appear in court and therefore give up the money that you paid for bail; run away and fail to come to trial and therefore give up the money that you have already paid to the court
The criminal jumped bail and went to another city to hide.

The man jumped bail and went to live in a foreign country.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

jump bail
v. phr., informal To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come.
The robber paid $2000 bail so he wouldn't be put in jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped to Mexico.
The man skipped bail because he was afraid the court might put him in jail for a long time.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲