to turn tail
7
7.0
- phrasal verb
:
dar la vuelta y huir
- He looked at her in amazement, and then turned tail to run back to his playmates.
- turn tail and run
- turn tail and flee
- turn tail and run back
Examples
-
When I encounter dogs, they either attack or turn tail and run.
Fiction book (2001) -
They like to frighten people, but the minute you stare 'em down, they turn tail and run.
-
I heard he turned tail and ran.
-
The children turned tail and ran.
Fiction book (2000) -
Looks like you turned tail and ran from that corner you backed yourself into.
Blog text (17) -
As soon as the Big E shows up, the Rekag ships turn tail and run.
Blog text (24) -
The dog yelped, turned tail, and ran, dwindling into the long perspective of the corridor.
Fiction book (1999) -
Smith's father, Roger, shouted, according to several witnesses, at which point Amanti turned tail and ran.
Blog text (27) -
Seventeen soldiers are slaughtered by KLA marauders, and now the government wants to turn tail and run?
Fiction book (2002) -
When the thunder roared, the little dog turned tail and ran for cover.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To move a boat fast in the same direction as the wind
∞
1.0
To get away from a place where you are kept or are in danger
550
1.6
To leave secretly and quickly to get away from danger or control
331
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
78
2.0
Leave a place suddenly, often to avoid someone or something
57
3.7
To move back to a safer place when facing danger
36
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
25
3.9
Get away very quickly to avoid being hurt
18
8.3
To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble
16
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
14
9.3
To run away quickly because you are afraid
13
4.4
To move back from a place or activity to avoid danger and trouble
12
7.9
To leave a place suddenly without permission
11
4.4
Leave a place quickly to avoid being caught after causing or seeing trouble
7
5.6
To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble
5
6.6
Leave a place quickly because people are angry or you are in trouble
5
8.0
To leave a place very quickly to avoid danger or trouble
5
7.2
Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble
5
3.6
To escape suddenly from control, capture, or a group
4
7.8
To run away quickly to escape danger
3
7.4
To leave quickly by suddenly walking away because you are angry or shocked
2
9.6
To leave without paying, often on a bus or train
2
2.5
Leave a place quickly because you are in a hurry
2
9.0
To leave quickly to escape or avoid something
1
9.1
Leave quickly, often because you are scared
1
9.0
Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast
1
9.7
To run away quickly to avoid trouble
1
6.1
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
1
6.0
To leave a place quickly to avoid danger or trouble
Run quickly into the woods to escape danger
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
To run away quickly to avoid being caught by the police
To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention
To run away quickly to avoid being caught
To run away quickly, usually because you are afraid
Antonyms
How Fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
turn + tail
The phrase evokes a metaphorical image of turning one’s rear (tail) away from danger so the literal meanings of 'turn' and 'tail' give a clue, but the specific sense 'to flee quickly out of fear or defeat' is an idiomatic extension and not fully predictable. This partial image makes the expression somewhat inferable yet still dependent on figurative awareness, so a B1 learner who knows the words might not reliably derive the full meaning without exposure.
Etymology
Turn tail may come from the image of an animal that literally turns its tail and runs away when it is scared. That's why the phrase now means 'to run away' or 'to flee' when someone is afraid or defeated.