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tail

tail

70 2.0
The last part of a period or event
  • noun
  • /teɪl/
translation icon : final
  • An older man, coming out, caught the tail end of the beggar's harangue.
  • the tail end
  • long tail
  • twist in the tail

Read an article called The Tail End by Tim Urban.

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Examples

  • Could it have been the tail end of a strange car? I thought so.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • But as of today, we're on the tail of this pandemic.

  • We've been in its tail for almost twelve hours.

  • The United States is about to enter a fiscal trap, chasing its tail just to pay off its creditors.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The team celebrated as they reached the tail end of their project, completing it ahead of schedule.

  • At the tail end of summer, many families take vacations before school starts.

  • The presentation was engaging, especially during the tail end when the speaker shared personal anecdotes.

Synonyms

end
vstail
1.0

The final part of something, like an event or story

is a casual way to point to that final section
ending
vstail
398 1.0

The final part of something, like an event, story, or relationship

focuses more on the final section within a time span
finale
vstail
180 3.6

The last, most exciting part of a show or event

means the ordinary final part without stressing drama
47 4.1

The point when something stops or finishes

is about the later part of a period rather than a stopping point
finish
vstail
39 1.0

The final part of an event or activity

names the last part of a period rather than the act of finishing
tail end
vstail
13 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

is the everyday phrase for that final part
endpoint
vstail
11 5.4

A place or time when something ends

emphasizes the final part within a longer period or event
termination
vstail
3 5.5

The end point of something like a road or tunnel

is the common phrase for the last portion within a timeframe
end point
vstail
1 3.9

The place or moment when something finishes

refers more to the last section of a time or event
final period
vstail
3.6

The last part of a period of time, for example a school year or concert

is a simpler everyday name for that final segment
fag end
vstail
  • UK
9.9

The last small part of something often thought less important

is neutral about value, naming the final part plainly
tag end
vstail
7.3

A small piece left at the very end of cloth or ribbon

covers the usual final part of a period rather than a scrap
terminus ad quem
vstail
  • Formal
9.9

The last date when something must happen

is the everyday phrase for the last part without legal formality

Idioms

17 7.9

To follow someone closely and keep bothering them

1 8.4

A small, unimportant part that controls the whole thing

A very short time that means something will happen soon

1 7.5

To keep doing the same task without getting anywhere

To feel very successful and have control of your life

1 8.8

Beat someone by a lot

7.7

To waste time on busy work and make no progress

Compounds

13 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

11 8.5

A tall marsh plant with a brown sausage-shaped seed head and long flat leaves used for making mats and seats

7 3.3

The tail meat of a lobster that people eat

4 2.4

A feather that grows on a bird's tail

tail rotor
  • Specialized
4 6.8

A small spinning blade at the tail of a helicopter that keeps it from spinning

long tail
  • Specialized
2 4.9

A market where many rare items, each sold in small numbers, together make a large part of sales

2 3.3

A tail that is long and helps an animal or kite keep balance

1 2.8

A tail that curves into a small spiral

1 3.7

A part that sticks out at the back of something like an animal's rear

1 1.0

A tail moving from side to side to show happiness or excitement

tail fin
  • Archaic
1 6.4

A decorative metal piece on a car's rear that looks like a small wing

tail fin
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A vertical surface at the plane's tail that helps keep it steady in flight

vertical tail
  • Specialized
1 6.0

The upright fin on a plane's tail that keeps it pointed straight

1 3.0

A deer with white fur under its tail

A small brown and white moth whose caterpillars eat the leaves of fruit and shade trees

brush-tail porcupine
  • Specialized
9.9

A large animal with sharp spines and a brush of stiff hairs at the end of its tail

A wild pigeon from western North America that is larger than city pigeons

fee tail
  • Archaic
9.9

A way of owning land that passes only to family and cannot be sold

2.1

A strip attached to the end of a kite to keep it steady in the air

9.9

A plant that grows near water with long curved spikes of small white flowers

lizard's-tail family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of herbs that have a strong smell and live for many years

A long thin white cloud high in the sky that looks like a horse's tail

A small flying insect with a white furry body and a yellow tuft at the tail

horizontal tail
  • Specialized
4.7

A flat surface at the tail of a plane that keeps the nose level and controls up-and-down movement

A tropical American plant with long, hanging stems and bright red flowers

rat-tail file
  • Specialized
9.5

A thin metal tool with a round taper used to smooth small round holes and curves

9.9

A small brown tree shrew from Malaysia with a bare tail fringed by stiff hairs at the tip

piece of tail
  • Offensive
9.9

Someone treated only for sex, not as a real person

3.1

A flat fin at a fish's rear used to push and steer it in water

2.3

A red light at the back of a car that shows it to drivers behind

tail assembly
  • Specialized
7.0

The rear part of a plane that helps it stay steady and turn

tail bone
  • Specialized
3.6

The small bone at the very end of the spine

tail coat
  • Formal
4.5

A formal evening jacket for men with a short front and long tails at the back

9.9

A tropical plant with large bright leaves and a long showy flower spike

9.9

A large brown bird with long, pointed tail feathers that lives in open grasslands

X-tail
  • Specialized
9.8

A tail design for an aircraft with four moving parts in an X shape that help control its direction

How Final

finale
180 3.6
end
1.0
tail
70 2.0
middle
1.0
beginning
1.0

Surface Forms

tail singular
tails plural

Etymology

The word tail also means the last part of something because a tail is the 'end' or back of an animal. So the tail of a meeting, storm, or holiday is its final part.