Menu

Turn Tail for Dummies

verb

pronunciation: tɜrn_teɪl

What does Turn Tail really mean?

66 1
66

Hey there, buddy! So, you're wondering what "turn tail" means, right? Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible.

Turn tail, my friend, is a phrase we often use when someone suddenly changes their direction or runs away from something. It's like when you're playing tag and you see your friend sneaking up behind you, so instead of facing them, you quickly "turn tail" and start running in the opposite direction to escape. It's all about making a quick decision to get away from a sticky situation or avoid something that scares you.

Turn tail can also be used to describe someone changing their mind or abandoning a plan. Imagine you were playing a board game and you thought you were going to win, but suddenly things aren't going so well. Instead of trying to turn the game around and make a comeback, you decide it's better to "turn tail" and quit. You don't want to waste any more time or effort on something that's not working out for you.

Now, there's one more meaning of "turn tail" that might interest you. Have you ever seen a dog or a cat when they get scared? They might tuck their tail between their legs and run away. Well, in a similar way, when we talk about a person or an animal "turning tail," it means they are getting scared or feeling threatened, causing them to retreat or flee.

So, my friend, in a nutshell, "turn tail" means to quickly change direction, run away, or abandon a plan when faced with something challenging, scary, or when things aren't going well. It's all about making a swift escape or backing out of a situation. I hope that helps clarify things for you!


Revised and Fact checked by John Smith on 2023-10-28 23:17:50

Turn Tail In a sentece

Learn how to use Turn Tail inside a sentece

  • When a dog heard a loud noise, it quickly turned tail and ran back home.
  • During the scary movie, the main character had to turn tail and run away from the ghost.
  • The mouse got scared when it saw the cat, so it turned tail and scurried into its hole.
  • When the teacher caught the student cheating, he had no choice but to turn tail and admit his mistake.
  • The hiker realized he had lost his way deep in the forest, so he decided to turn tail and head back to where he started.

Turn Tail Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Turn Tail Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Turn Tail Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.