2tail verb
tails; tailed; tail·ing 1 [+ obj] informal : to follow (someone) closely
▪ The police had been tailing the suspect for several miles. ▪ She is constantly tailed by the press. 2 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to move in a line that is not straight
▪ The pitch tailed away from the batter.
▪ The police had been tailing the suspect for several miles. ▪ She is constantly tailed by the press.
▪ The pitch tailed away from the batter.
tail back
[phrasal verb] Brit, of vehicles : to form a line that moves slowly or not at all because of heavy traffic, an accident, etc.
▪ Traffic tailed back [=backed up] for miles. — see also tailback 2
▪ Traffic tailed back [=backed up] for miles. — see also tailback 2
tail off [phrasal verb]
: to become smaller or quieter in a gradual way
▪ Our productivity tailed off last year. ▪ She started to ask a question and then her voice tailed off. [=trailed off]
▪ Our productivity tailed off last year. ▪ She started to ask a question and then her voice tailed off. [=trailed off]
