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.