turn tail

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turn tail (and run)

Fig. to flee; to run away in fright. I couldn't just turn tail and run, but I wasn't going to fight that monster, either. Sometimes turning tail is the only sensible thing to do.

See also: tail, turn

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They set out to everlastingly eat up some proposition but at the first sign of trouble they turn tail and stampede for the brush. Burning Daylight by London, Jack View in context Still I advanced steadily, looking for him to turn tail at any moment and run. The Sea Wolf by London, Jack View in context 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. Kidnapped by Stevenson, Robert Louis View in context			turn inside out turn into turn king's evidence turn loose turn nose up turn nose up at turn of the century turn off turn on turn on a dime turn on heel turn on its ear turn on its head turn on the waterworks Turn on, tune in, drop out turn onto turn out turn out of turn out to be turn over turn over a new leaf turn over in mind turn over to turn some place inside out turn stomach turn tail turn the clock back turn the corner turn the heat up turn the knife turn the other cheek turn the other way turn the page turn the tables turn the tables on turn the tide turn thumbs down turn thumbs up turn to turn to advantage turn to dust turn to good account turn toward turn turtle turn under turn up turn up like a bad penny turn up the heat turn up toes turn upside down turn water off			Turn Round Time Turn screw turn selfishly to one’s own account turn signal Turn signal fluid Turn Signal Security Module Turn signals turn some place inside out turn sour turn sour turn sour turn spin in grave Turn state's evidence Turn state's evidence Turn state's evidence Turn state's evidence Turn state's evidence turn state’s evidence Turn states' evidence turn stomach Turn Stuff Off turn swords into ploughshares turn swords into ploughshares turn swords into ploughshares turn swords into ploughshares turn swords into plowshares turn swords into plowshares turn swords into plowshares Turn table Turn table turn tail turn the attention to turn the balance turn the balance turn the balance turn the balance turn the balance Turn the Book Over turn the clock back Turn the Clock Forward turn the corner turn the corner turn the corner turn the corner turn the corner turn the corner turn the eyes on turn the heat up turn the knife turn the knife turn the knife turn the knife turn the knife turn the knife in the wound turn the knife in the wound turn the knife in the wound turn the knife in the wound turn the leaves of turn the mind to turn the other cheek turn the other cheek

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