Jump ship.
Jump ship.
'Jump ship' is a maritime term that has found its way into everyday language, referring to the act of leaving one's current situation, often hastily and due to unfavorable conditions, much like a crew member might abandon a vessel in distress. In the workplace, it often describes an employee leaving an organization suddenly, likely due to dissatisfaction or better opportunities elsewhere. It evokes the urgency and sometimes desperation of the decision to leave.
He decided to jump ship to a better opportunity.
He decided to leave for a better opportunity.
When the project failed, half the team jumped ship.
When the project failed, a significant portion of the team left.
It's not ideal to jump ship during tough times, but he had no choice.
Leaving in tough times isn't ideal, but he had no choice.