turn tail

Idioms  

1. Run away, as in When they heard the sirens, the boys turned tail. This term alludes to an animal's turning its back in flight. [Mid-1500s]

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Example Sentences

Instead, the player nicknamed “The Alien” puts a forcefield around the basket—making would-be attackers turn tail and run away.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

The backlash became so intense that even Mr. Musk’s most strident supporters seemed to turn tail.

From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2022

But when those lizards meet a predator who is not intimidated by their act, they turn tail and run.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2022

You’ve now got a monster that would make Godzilla turn tail.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 17, 2022

Being a city slicker, he’d no doubt turn tail and beat it back to Terre Haute when we started bleeding out the first hog.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck