1 [count] : the part of an animal's body that extends from the animal's back end
▪ a monkey with a long tail — see pictures at bird, horse 2 [count] a : a long piece that extends from the back end or bottom of something
▪ the tail of a kite ▪ a comet's tail — see also pigtails, ponytail, shirttail
b : the back end of an airplane, helicopter, etc. — see picture at airplane 3 tails [plural] : the back side of a coin : the side of a coin that is opposite the side which shows a picture of a person's head — usually used to refer to one of the two choices you can make when a coin is thrown in the air to decide something ▪ I call tails. ▪ Is it heads or tails? [=did the coin land with heads or tails facing up?] — compare 1head 5 4 tails [plural] : tailcoat
▪ He wore a top hat and tails. 5 [singular] informal : a person (such as a detective) who follows or watches someone
▪ They put a tail on the suspect. [=they had someone follow the suspect]
▪ a monkey with a long tail — see pictures at bird, horse
▪ the tail of a kite ▪ a comet's tail — see also pigtails, ponytail, shirttail
b : the back end of an airplane, helicopter, etc. — see picture at airplane
▪ He wore a top hat and tails.
▪ They put a tail on the suspect. [=they had someone follow the suspect]
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed — see bright
not make head or/nor tail of — see 1head
on someone's tail
informal : following closely behind someone
▪ The sheriff was hot on their tails.
▪ The sheriff was hot on their tails.
the tail wagging the dog
informal — used to describe a situation in which an important or powerful person, organization, etc., is being controlled by someone or something that is much less important or powerful
turn tail
informal : to turn around and run away from danger, trouble, etc.
▪ He turned tail and ran from the fight. ▪ You can't just turn tail and run from your problems.
▪ He turned tail and ran from the fight. ▪ You can't just turn tail and run from your problems.
with your tail between your legs
: with a feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed especially because you have been defeated
▪ He lost the fight and went home with his tail between his legs.
▪ He lost the fight and went home with his tail between his legs.




