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turn tail

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
turn tail (informal)
to run away, usually because you are frightened. When I saw him my first impulse was to turn tail and flee.
See also: tail, turn


turn tail
1. to suddenly leave. The only thing I could do was to turn tail and run from my attacker.
2. to suddenly change from supporting something to opposing it. The senator turned tail on his party.
See also: tail, turn


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? References in classic literature
They set out to everlastingly eat up some proposition but at the first sign of trouble they turn tail and stampede for the brush.
Still I advanced steadily, looking for him to turn tail at any moment and run.
I was often tempted to turn tail, but held my ground for all that, and got some profit of my lessons; if it was but to stand on guard with an assured countenance, which is often all that is required.
 
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