Sometimes danger is impossible to miss. A building on fire, a car swerving dangerously in front of you, or a wild animal blocking your path—these are clear signs it’s time to get away fast.
But other times, there’s no obvious warning. Everything seems normal, yet something deep inside whispers that things aren’t quite right.
That gut feeling we all have isn’t something to brush off. Redditors in this thread shared moments when their intuition told them to leave immediately, and listening saved them from situations that could have ended badly. Scroll down to read their stories and let them be a reminder to always trust your instincts.
#1
Not me, but my dog.
I was having a little after the bar party at my apartment that was right next door. Somehow in a drunken shuffle, my friends disappeared and I was left with this dude I didn't know. He was being nice and we were chatting while waiting for the others to come back. I offered him a drink and got one myself as well.
I thought he seemed odd, so I was texting my friends to hurry up. But then my sweet, timid (but large) dog started barking and growling at this man like I'd never heard before or since. I told the guy to get tf out and when he got irritated, I said if the dog says you're out, you get out. He tried to argue and I had to shout him out.
Ten minutes later I hit the floor and crawled to the bathroom to p**e. I slept for ages. I never p**e when I drink, and I never get that drunk. I thought I'd had my drink in my sight the whole night, but I can only assume he slipped me something. My dog was 4 at the time and is now 11. I'm so glad I listened, because his instincts definitely saved me from something awful.
I was having a little after the bar party at my apartment that was right next door. Somehow in a drunken shuffle, my friends disappeared and I was left with this dude I didn't know. He was being nice and we were chatting while waiting for the others to come back. I offered him a drink and got one myself as well.
I thought he seemed odd, so I was texting my friends to hurry up. But then my sweet, timid (but large) dog started barking and growling at this man like I'd never heard before or since. I told the guy to get tf out and when he got irritated, I said if the dog says you're out, you get out. He tried to argue and I had to shout him out.
Ten minutes later I hit the floor and crawled to the bathroom to p**e. I slept for ages. I never p**e when I drink, and I never get that drunk. I thought I'd had my drink in my sight the whole night, but I can only assume he slipped me something. My dog was 4 at the time and is now 11. I'm so glad I listened, because his instincts definitely saved me from something awful.
71points
#2
I left America for good about 10 years ago...
61points
#3
Years ago I had just moved to a new city alone. About a week in I was walking home from work at night/early morning when a truck passed me very slowly. A few moments later I realized he made the block and did it again. He did this a few times. I was closer to home by this point and decided I should just make a run for it. But something in me said to just keep walking. Which seemed like an idiotic way to respond to a threat but it worked out in the end because of it. I made it to a stop sign the last time he pulled around, when he stopped I leaned in to look him directly in the face and told him “I see you, I can identify you, f**k off.” (BTW I would never suggest this approach to other women, ever! I am over 6’ with close combat training but this was still a huge risk)When he peeled off around the corner I dashed to my house. The next morning after relaying this to some coworkers they told me there had been a serial r**ist in that area snatching women all summer. I called and reported the incident. A detective actually came to see me and got the details, he warned me not to walk home again (duh) because I fit the profile of his previous victims. The VERY next day he was caught. The detective called me to let me know that two details (facial hair and vehicle type) I gave differed from the descriptions from his victims and those are the details that got him caught.
Weird instinct, sure, but it helped catch a vile creature.
Weird instinct, sure, but it helped catch a vile creature.
50points
#4
Not me, but my husband. He used to work for a delivery company. He had an unshakeable feeling one morning to a point that he couldn't bring himself to go into work. He just kept saying something was off, and he was going to trust his gut.
The guy who covered his shift delivered to a house where he got attacked by two dogs, and dispatch didn't pick up on the fact that his vehicle hadn't moved until six hours later. No one knew he was there and by the time anyone came out to check on the guy, he was too far gone to be able to save.
I still think about that. I feel so incredibly bad for the guy and his family. At the same time, I'm beyond grateful my husband didn't go to work that day. It's a double-edged sword thinking about it from a moral standpoint. My husband quit that company the next day after they sent out a reminder email to the drivers about what happened, and it very heartlessly was "Woof woof! Remember to be mindful about our furry customers. They don't always know that we're bringing them good things!" I wish I was joking.
The guy who covered his shift delivered to a house where he got attacked by two dogs, and dispatch didn't pick up on the fact that his vehicle hadn't moved until six hours later. No one knew he was there and by the time anyone came out to check on the guy, he was too far gone to be able to save.
I still think about that. I feel so incredibly bad for the guy and his family. At the same time, I'm beyond grateful my husband didn't go to work that day. It's a double-edged sword thinking about it from a moral standpoint. My husband quit that company the next day after they sent out a reminder email to the drivers about what happened, and it very heartlessly was "Woof woof! Remember to be mindful about our furry customers. They don't always know that we're bringing them good things!" I wish I was joking.
46points
#5
I went to sleep for an extra shift I picked up earlier than normal. One of my really good friends really pushed and pushed for me to go with him to a party. I couldn't bring myself to have fun instead of getting sleep before a 12 hour shift. Turns out, he was planning to m***er / s*****e us. He wrecked his car in to a tree, right after leaving the party as his way out of this world. He survived and his dad found notebooks and poems about how he had planned all this out and this was his way of us living in the afterlife as "bros."
We stopped talking after.
We stopped talking after.
43points
#6
Not a "leave now" moment but something similar.
I was living in my parents apartment and they were both asleep, both take medication to sleep so they were out out. I was about ti go to sleep as well so I turned my light off but something told me to open my door, so I did and I looked out into the hallway and saw flickering lights on the wall. I thought "Huh that's weird" and almost ignored it but instead I decided to check it out. Turns out my mom put a candle in a plastic cup on top of an antique dresser. Of course, it started a fire. The flames were about two feet h**h and the living room was filled with smoke already. Luckily, I was able to put it out and wake my parents to air out the apartment.
I think to myself sometimes that if I decided to just go to sleep, me and my parents both would have probably d**d to a house fire.
Always trust your gut.
I was living in my parents apartment and they were both asleep, both take medication to sleep so they were out out. I was about ti go to sleep as well so I turned my light off but something told me to open my door, so I did and I looked out into the hallway and saw flickering lights on the wall. I thought "Huh that's weird" and almost ignored it but instead I decided to check it out. Turns out my mom put a candle in a plastic cup on top of an antique dresser. Of course, it started a fire. The flames were about two feet h**h and the living room was filled with smoke already. Luckily, I was able to put it out and wake my parents to air out the apartment.
I think to myself sometimes that if I decided to just go to sleep, me and my parents both would have probably d**d to a house fire.
Always trust your gut.
42points
#7
At first I thought I was being weird, overly sensitive. I stopped by this local small grocery store because I needed some milk and mayonnaise but didn’t want to go to my regular store that was much busier and further from my house.
This guy kept “appearing” at the end of the isle I was in. To say he looked at me in a creepy way would be a bigger understatement than saying the surface of the sun is kinda warm. After 3 times of these “looks” I checked out and left. I saw him in the parking lot. He just stood there watching me get in my car.
Unfortunately I didn’t learn my lesson so quickly. I went to that store 2 more times when I needed just an item or two. That man was there each time. I was so creeped out by this guy I stopped going to that store. I thought I was being crazy. But I tell you, the look in that guy’s eyes was so scary. Like he was devouring me with his eyes or something.
Didn’t think about that guy until almost a year later when I saw him on the TV. He had just been arrested. Turns out his name was Gary Ridgeway. He worked on the street I lived on, about 5 blocks down. Gary Ridgeway was the Green River K****r.
This guy kept “appearing” at the end of the isle I was in. To say he looked at me in a creepy way would be a bigger understatement than saying the surface of the sun is kinda warm. After 3 times of these “looks” I checked out and left. I saw him in the parking lot. He just stood there watching me get in my car.
Unfortunately I didn’t learn my lesson so quickly. I went to that store 2 more times when I needed just an item or two. That man was there each time. I was so creeped out by this guy I stopped going to that store. I thought I was being crazy. But I tell you, the look in that guy’s eyes was so scary. Like he was devouring me with his eyes or something.
Didn’t think about that guy until almost a year later when I saw him on the TV. He had just been arrested. Turns out his name was Gary Ridgeway. He worked on the street I lived on, about 5 blocks down. Gary Ridgeway was the Green River K****r.
41points
#8
One night I was waiting for the train when four guys walked up and I immediately got a bad vibe from them. I’ve been robbed once before on the train and their demeanor reminded me of the guys who robbed me—like they were sizing me up and they were excited about it.
I stood there for a couple more minutes reading my book and trying to look casual, then walked probably 3 or 4 car lengths down the platform. They stayed where they were but kept looking at me. When the train pulled up, I went to get in the front door of the car, glanced behind me and saw them RUNNING down the platform toward me.
I got in the car and made my way to the back doors at the opposite end. A few seconds later, the four guys burst through the front doors and started looking around. I slipped out the back doors right as they were closing, before the guys spotted me, so I ended up safe on the platform while they were stuck on the train as it pulled away. When they looked out the window and saw me, they looked furious. I booked it out of the station and took the bus instead.
The next day there was a news story that someone was robbed at knifepoint at the next stop right around that time, by four men who fit the description of the men I encountered. I’m so glad I listened to my gut and got out of that situation. In hindsight, it all happened so fast and it’s crazy that I reacted in exactly the right way to get myself to safety. .
I stood there for a couple more minutes reading my book and trying to look casual, then walked probably 3 or 4 car lengths down the platform. They stayed where they were but kept looking at me. When the train pulled up, I went to get in the front door of the car, glanced behind me and saw them RUNNING down the platform toward me.
I got in the car and made my way to the back doors at the opposite end. A few seconds later, the four guys burst through the front doors and started looking around. I slipped out the back doors right as they were closing, before the guys spotted me, so I ended up safe on the platform while they were stuck on the train as it pulled away. When they looked out the window and saw me, they looked furious. I booked it out of the station and took the bus instead.
The next day there was a news story that someone was robbed at knifepoint at the next stop right around that time, by four men who fit the description of the men I encountered. I’m so glad I listened to my gut and got out of that situation. In hindsight, it all happened so fast and it’s crazy that I reacted in exactly the right way to get myself to safety. .
37points
#9
I was at a party and this guy pushed me up against a wall. He swore it was a joke but I said nah I'm out. I'd already had bad vibes off him all night and called my boyfriend (all my friends were at the party and didn't want to leave) and asked him to pick me up because I was drunk. A week later that guy was arrested for r**e.
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33points
#10
Years ago, i was hanging out with a couple friends in the street, we had the idea to go to certain club during the night, when we finally decided to start walking towards it, i got a strange gut feeling about it that i couldn't really understand or shake off. I told my friends that i wasn't feeling like clubbing that night but that they could go without me, my friends tried to convince me to go for a bit but i refused. They gave up and said that we could rather hang out at a friend's house.
Later, that same night, while were still hanging out, the news reported that there was a shootout at the club, apparently g**g related and there were bystanders critically wounded by stray bullets.
I remember my friends looking at me with this pale look while i was also very moved by this. I had never experience something of this sort, neither something like that has repeated. I'm thankful that i listened to the feeling and that my friends decided to go with me somewhere else, who knows what could've happened.
Later, that same night, while were still hanging out, the news reported that there was a shootout at the club, apparently g**g related and there were bystanders critically wounded by stray bullets.
I remember my friends looking at me with this pale look while i was also very moved by this. I had never experience something of this sort, neither something like that has repeated. I'm thankful that i listened to the feeling and that my friends decided to go with me somewhere else, who knows what could've happened.
33points
#11
Not me but my dad.
He was in Vietnam from 67-69 with a brief respite in Germany in between tours.
There was one time when his company had completed a patrol and they were waiting near their LZ (pickup point) for pickup the following morning.
Despite not having enemy contact during the patrol, he ordered his entire company to move away from their LZ and reset perimeter , re-dig hasty fighting positions, etc., probably about 1k from their initial position.
Their old position wound up getting mortar/artillery fire throughout the night and my dad is 100% convinced that if they would have stayed in their initial positions that his whole company would have d**d.
He was in Vietnam from 67-69 with a brief respite in Germany in between tours.
There was one time when his company had completed a patrol and they were waiting near their LZ (pickup point) for pickup the following morning.
Despite not having enemy contact during the patrol, he ordered his entire company to move away from their LZ and reset perimeter , re-dig hasty fighting positions, etc., probably about 1k from their initial position.
Their old position wound up getting mortar/artillery fire throughout the night and my dad is 100% convinced that if they would have stayed in their initial positions that his whole company would have d**d.
32points
#12
I was taking the southbound red in Chicago during wintertime a few years ago and three people wearing balaclavas entered my car, which was already pretty full. Two were standing in front of one exit and the other guy was standing in front of the other. I saw them scan the people in the car in my peripheral vision, then the guy standing alone looked over at the other two and gave them an "ok" nod. I felt like something was about to go down so I got off at the next stop and walked the rest of the way home (fortunately was not stopped by one of those guys when I passed them, probably because other people were in the car).
About 10 minutes later I got a ping from the Citizen app saying something along the lines of "robbery/shooting at [next station]". I passed the next station on the walk back and saw tons of cop cars along with an ambulance parked at the entrance.
About 10 minutes later I got a ping from the Citizen app saying something along the lines of "robbery/shooting at [next station]". I passed the next station on the walk back and saw tons of cop cars along with an ambulance parked at the entrance.
30points
#13
One time, before Lyft or Uber, I was out at the bars with friends. We realized that we didn't have much cash between us and the taxis in my town didn't take cards yet. Our first stop was at our male friend's house. I ended up giving all my cash to my female friend so she could get dropped off at her home. I figured I was safe because my male friend's female roommate was home, and also I could walk home from this place if I got uncomfortable. I walked into his house to hang out for a bit and possibly crash on the couch, but right when I stepped inside I realized his female roommate was already asleep in her room. I was already feeling a little gut reaction, but I figured I would just sleep on the couch for a bit before heading home. My house was only 2.5 miles away, but it was winter and I had lost my coat at the first bar we went to, so I wasn't that eager to walk.
I headed toward the couch and he cut me off and said, "you can sleep in my bed, it will be comfier." I said, "no man, I'm good." But then he kept insisting, and never once mentioned that he would be willing to take the couch and I could have the bed, which I didn't expect, but would've been a lot more convincing of his positive intent.
I got that gut feeling, so I quickly turned and headed out of the apartment with, "good night! Thanks for the offer!" I started walking and was feeling good about my decision, when all of a sudden, I felt myself in the headlights of a car. He was driving to come get me and was shouting to assure me it was fine and I should just sleep over. I started running through the apartment complex parking lot to get away, but he was driving close behind. At this point, I'm clearly communicating with my body language that I'm not wanting any bit of this situation, and he's still driving, fast.
I panicked and tried to run through a grassy lawn area, but it was dark and I didn't see that it was actually a 10- foot retaining wall. I ended up running in mid air, like a cartoon, and landed on the middle yellow line of the road below. The impact snapped my purse off it's chain and shattered my phone screen. My tailbone felt like fire and my wrists were both in pain. I sat on the road for a second to catch my breath, but then I saw his headlights turning out of the apartment complex driveway, which was a bit up the road thanks to my "shortcut". I crawled on my hands and knees off of the road and got myself into the fairway of a golf course. I hid behind some bushes until he gave up and went home
I continued my 2.5 mile trek home, in the dark, on a cold 28° night with a broken phone and a broken tailbone, in a tank top and leggings. Thanks to my broken phone screen, I had to guess where the buttons on my screen were to call my then boyfriend. When I finally accomplished the phone call, I asked him to come pick me up because my night out had taken a weird turn and I was injured. He said, "no, I'm mad at you because you haven't checked in all night." I explained that I had put my phone safely away in my purse because I had already lost my sunglasses and my coat at the bar (I don't have a drinking problem, but I do have an ADHD problem). I begged him to "be mad at me tomorrow, but please come get me tonight." He refused. I made it home and shivered under multiple blankets on my coach for two hours before finally falling asleep. In the morning, he tried to make me breakfast and act like nothing happened. Needless to say, I also ended up breaking up with that dude.
I headed toward the couch and he cut me off and said, "you can sleep in my bed, it will be comfier." I said, "no man, I'm good." But then he kept insisting, and never once mentioned that he would be willing to take the couch and I could have the bed, which I didn't expect, but would've been a lot more convincing of his positive intent.
I got that gut feeling, so I quickly turned and headed out of the apartment with, "good night! Thanks for the offer!" I started walking and was feeling good about my decision, when all of a sudden, I felt myself in the headlights of a car. He was driving to come get me and was shouting to assure me it was fine and I should just sleep over. I started running through the apartment complex parking lot to get away, but he was driving close behind. At this point, I'm clearly communicating with my body language that I'm not wanting any bit of this situation, and he's still driving, fast.
I panicked and tried to run through a grassy lawn area, but it was dark and I didn't see that it was actually a 10- foot retaining wall. I ended up running in mid air, like a cartoon, and landed on the middle yellow line of the road below. The impact snapped my purse off it's chain and shattered my phone screen. My tailbone felt like fire and my wrists were both in pain. I sat on the road for a second to catch my breath, but then I saw his headlights turning out of the apartment complex driveway, which was a bit up the road thanks to my "shortcut". I crawled on my hands and knees off of the road and got myself into the fairway of a golf course. I hid behind some bushes until he gave up and went home
I continued my 2.5 mile trek home, in the dark, on a cold 28° night with a broken phone and a broken tailbone, in a tank top and leggings. Thanks to my broken phone screen, I had to guess where the buttons on my screen were to call my then boyfriend. When I finally accomplished the phone call, I asked him to come pick me up because my night out had taken a weird turn and I was injured. He said, "no, I'm mad at you because you haven't checked in all night." I explained that I had put my phone safely away in my purse because I had already lost my sunglasses and my coat at the bar (I don't have a drinking problem, but I do have an ADHD problem). I begged him to "be mad at me tomorrow, but please come get me tonight." He refused. I made it home and shivered under multiple blankets on my coach for two hours before finally falling asleep. In the morning, he tried to make me breakfast and act like nothing happened. Needless to say, I also ended up breaking up with that dude.
29points
#14
Ok, a little less dark than most comments here, but I thought I'd share.
I went to the zoo with some friends and my girlfriend. There was this huge birdcage (I forgot the word) where you could walk in and see all the little, colourful birds. As we were walking, we noticed a dispenser, where you could buy some seeds and sugary water to feed the birds. So we did, all fun and games, until my gut told me we had to leave. I took my gf's hand, and we made our exit, and 2 minutes later, so did my friends, who were now covered in birdpoo.
I went to the zoo with some friends and my girlfriend. There was this huge birdcage (I forgot the word) where you could walk in and see all the little, colourful birds. As we were walking, we noticed a dispenser, where you could buy some seeds and sugary water to feed the birds. So we did, all fun and games, until my gut told me we had to leave. I took my gf's hand, and we made our exit, and 2 minutes later, so did my friends, who were now covered in birdpoo.
28points
#15
Not me, but my then-roommate was a school janitor. He usually left for work before I got up, and I was surprised to see him out in the living room playing Xbox when I knew he had to work that day.
Apparently he just had a terrible feeling that something was going to happen that day and called in sick.
I thought he was being an idiot, but when the news hit later that day that there had been a school shooting with multiple casualties, I was stunned.
I don't think science has any kind of explanation for that. It's one thing if he was regularly slacking off and something happened on an offday, but I'd never seen him just up and miss work for any reason, nevermind just having a bad feeling.
Apparently he just had a terrible feeling that something was going to happen that day and called in sick.
I thought he was being an idiot, but when the news hit later that day that there had been a school shooting with multiple casualties, I was stunned.
I don't think science has any kind of explanation for that. It's one thing if he was regularly slacking off and something happened on an offday, but I'd never seen him just up and miss work for any reason, nevermind just having a bad feeling.
28points
#16
Was out to the clubs on Halloween night and it was around 1 am my partner and our fam/friends decided to head out. Before we did we walked a little down the club street & back(lots of costumes to see and the street had lots of different stores, tattoo shops, clubs, bars, & restaurants open).
My partner asked if we should walk the other way or just head out and for some reason when I looked at the street I thought to myself “this would be a great place for a shooting. Big crowds and no where to run” and that random thought gave me chills. So I refused and made us go leave. They didn’t really want to leave but I told them I had a bad feeling. We got our uber within 5 minutes and as we were driving away we passed several police cars with the lights & sirens on full blast speeding to the strip of clubs. We ended up eating pizza and falling asleep around 4.
When we woke up the next day our phones were filled with missed texts and calls because it turns out we just missed a shooting. We had posted to our social media about being at the club where the shooting happened in front of the club we went to. We had left around 1:40 AM and the shooting happened about 1:47 AM. Such a bizarre thought to have but it ended up saving us. I remember several people were shot and I think 3 critically wounded. Then the shooter plus 1 other person was dead. We missed it by minutes. Insanity.
My partner asked if we should walk the other way or just head out and for some reason when I looked at the street I thought to myself “this would be a great place for a shooting. Big crowds and no where to run” and that random thought gave me chills. So I refused and made us go leave. They didn’t really want to leave but I told them I had a bad feeling. We got our uber within 5 minutes and as we were driving away we passed several police cars with the lights & sirens on full blast speeding to the strip of clubs. We ended up eating pizza and falling asleep around 4.
When we woke up the next day our phones were filled with missed texts and calls because it turns out we just missed a shooting. We had posted to our social media about being at the club where the shooting happened in front of the club we went to. We had left around 1:40 AM and the shooting happened about 1:47 AM. Such a bizarre thought to have but it ended up saving us. I remember several people were shot and I think 3 critically wounded. Then the shooter plus 1 other person was dead. We missed it by minutes. Insanity.
27points
#17
My mom had something like this. It was back in 2003 when I was 12, my sister 10. Mom and dad were planning on a date night and they were going to have us kids go stay with our grandma and great grandma for the night. Mom said she changed her mind last minute and instead they rescheduled and we all stayed home.
My grandma's house burned down that night, k***ing my great grandma and severely injuring grandma and one of my uncles. Had my sister and I been there we would have likely been in the same room with great grandma or grandma, and one of both of us would have d**d.
My grandma's house burned down that night, k***ing my great grandma and severely injuring grandma and one of my uncles. Had my sister and I been there we would have likely been in the same room with great grandma or grandma, and one of both of us would have d**d.
26points
#18
I was an after party purely bc my friend wanted to b**g one of the dudes. I waited in the living room, first full of people but dwindling down to eventually just 2 guys & me (friend has yet to emerge from random hookup's bedroom). It was fine for a bit & then I caught a glance between the two & it was like everything turned slow motion for a second. I literally dragged my friend of a guy's bed & we gtfo.
One of those dudes eventually served time for the sexual a*****t & m**der of his girlfriend.
One of those dudes eventually served time for the sexual a*****t & m**der of his girlfriend.
23points
#19
When I was 13, my aunt took me to the beach. It was a little later in the day and pretty empty, just me and her. Not too far out I found a sandbar, the water went from knee deep to suddenly not being able to touch the ground. But I went out further and found a 2nd sand bar where I could touch the ground again. I kept diving under the water to try to feel around for sand dollars, but I noticed a faint buzzing that started getting louder and louder and louder. There were no boats or anything, and I could only hear it when my head was under the water- but it sounded like something big was next to me and super close. It was starting to weird me out so I looked back at my aunt who was standing next to 2 other people- frantically waving at me and screaming but I couldn't hear what they were saying.
I just knew right then and there, dont splash, dont panic, and move SLOW. I basically tried to keep the pace of just walking back even when my feet couldn't touch the ground. The buzzing I was hearing turned out to be sharks circling me. 2 joggers noticed the fins and told my aunt they weren't dolphins and that they were getting closer to me. My aunt was pissed I took so long getting out but I told her I felt like it wouldve been an awful idea to start kicking and splashing and something was telling me to go as slow as possible.
I just knew right then and there, dont splash, dont panic, and move SLOW. I basically tried to keep the pace of just walking back even when my feet couldn't touch the ground. The buzzing I was hearing turned out to be sharks circling me. 2 joggers noticed the fins and told my aunt they weren't dolphins and that they were getting closer to me. My aunt was pissed I took so long getting out but I told her I felt like it wouldve been an awful idea to start kicking and splashing and something was telling me to go as slow as possible.
23points
#20
Was working at home with the blinds open. Some light rain was coming through but I was deep into working on a project. I had headphones in, didn’t think anything of the rain. One minute it was fine and the next minute I glanced toward the window and noticed the window was completely whited out. For like half a second I was like “huh?” and saw a grey blob dancing around in it. My stomach dropped and I had this instant feeling of “get the hell away from this window!” I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. it was a d**n tornado!!! lol the grey blob was a huge tree!
21points