turn tail

Synonyms for turn tail

MOST RELEVANT

verb. back

Word Origin & History

"limitation of ownership," a legal term, early 14c. in Anglo-French; late 13c. in Anglo-Latin, in most cases a shortened form of entail.

As I got higher it became hail, and I had to turn tail to it.

In such cases, I have seen first one turn tail, then the other.

When a man once funks his own name he'll turn tail on anything.

We should have been able to say that we did not turn tail upon our enemies.

I felt so shabby and disreputable that I was tempted to turn tail and escape.

Even if he spent his majority in the London docks he would not turn tail.

When we get to that stage, you'll be the first to turn tail and let the others die!

She had begun to like him so much, it grieved her to see him turn tail.

He could believe that gauge and turn tail—or he could figure it was wrong and go on.

He insulted me so grievously that I had to turn tail and run away from him.