The term 'hotfooted it' is an idiom that means to move quickly or hurry away. It can be broken down into five crossword solutions: HIED (4 letters), RAN (3 letters), FLED (4 letters), sped (4 letters), and raced (5 letters). HIED means to move quickly, RAN means to move at a fast pace, FLED means to run away in fear, sped means to move faster than usual, and raced means to move quickly in competition with someone else. All of these words together describe the action of hurrying away quickly.