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

See Examples For:

turn tail

"The alien's would turn tail and head back to Mars."

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

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

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2022

Finding themselves outnumbered, EWD 1355 and her co-conspirators turn tail and resume their migration, retreating southward from Luembe in linear bursts along the Luangwa River.

From New York Times ● Jun. 20, 2022

Two of them turn tail and sprint across the lot.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen