Meaning

1 senses

  1. (idiomatic)To turn away from someone or something, in preparation for running away; to reverse direction; to leave or flee.

More definitions
  • flee; take to one's heels; cut and run

Examples

3 sentences

  1. They've been forced to turn tail.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · sacredceltic · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  2. He turned tail and ran.

    deEs lief mit eingezogenem Schwanz davon.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · sundown · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  3. She organised a rescue effort after the flood while you turned tail and ran. She's the one who's praiseworthy, not you.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · sabretou · C2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Translations

3 languages

Forms

turns tail, turning tail, turned tail, turned tail
Base formturn tail · to turn tail
3rd person singularturns tail
Present participleturning tail
Past simpleturned tail
Past participleturned tail

irregular

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theyturn tail
he, she, itturns tail

Past simpleLesson

all personsturned tail

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave turned tail
he, she, ithas turned tail

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill turn tail

Synonyms

13 synonyms
turn on one's heel
Close in meaning

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
turmoilC1turnA1turnaroundturncoatturner
turn tail — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto