be out of the woods—(often negat.) be finally free from trouble or difficulties (also: be out of the wood):
- The Prime Minister is by no means out of the woods, and must fight to defend his leadership.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase come out of the woodwork—appear as though out of nowhere, especially in large numbers:
- He won the lottery and has had old “friends” and distant relatives coming out of the woodwork ever since.
take to the woods—run away from one’s responsibilities; get away from trouble and hide:
- When trouble comes, wise men take to their work; weak men take to the woods.