tail1 /teɪl/ ●●● S2 W3 noun [countableC] → tale1 animal 动物HBAHB the part that sticks out at the back of an animal’s body, and that it can move 尾巴 The dog wagged its tail. 那条狗摇了摇尾巴。
white-tailed/long-tailed etc →5 see picture at 见图 big cat, horse 4 back part 末尾部分 [usually singular]BACK OF something the back or last part of something, especially something that is moving away from you 末尾部分,后部〔尤指离你而去的东西〕 We saw the tail of the procession disappearing round the corner. 我们看到队伍的尾巴绕过拐角渐渐消失。
5 tails b) [uncountableU]PEC spoken said when you are tossing a coin (=throwing it up in the air to decide which of two things you will do or choose) 反面〔抛硬币时说的话〕 OPP heads tails• Which do you want, heads or tails?
6. the tail end of something BACK OF somethingthe last part of an event, situation, or period of time 〔某事件、形势或时期的〕尾声,末尾 7. be on somebody’s tail informalFOLLOW to be following someone closely 紧跟某人 8 follow 跟踪 informalFOLLOW someone who is employed to watch and follow someone, especially a criminal 〔尤指对罪犯的〕盯梢者put a tail on somebody (=order someone to follow another person) 派人跟踪某人
9. turn tail informalLEAVE YOUR HOME/COUNTRY to run away because you are too frightened to fight or attack 〔因不敢抵抗或攻击而〕逃跑,转身逃走turn tail• If one animal suddenly turns tail, it is liable to be attacked and might get injured.• He caught sight of a few others, but they turned tail and vanished when they saw him through the mist.• She wanted to turn tail and run, but she couldn't have stood herself if she appeared such a coward. 10. with your tail between your legs EMBARRASSEDembarrassed or unhappy because you have failed or been defeated 〔因失败或被打败而〕夹着尾巴,垂头丧气with your tail between your legs• They got scared and ran away with their tail between their legs.• He knows he can not come back with his tail between his legs.• I would go out of the Chamber with my tail between my legs.• And that is when the toughest Bruin team in years sent the Huskies home with their tails between their legs.• Pottz wiped out three waves in a row and crept back in with his tail between his legs. 11. it’s (a case of) the tail wagging the dog informalOPPOSITE/REVERSE used to say that an unimportant thing is wrongly controlling a situation 这是主次颠倒,这是喧宾夺主 12. chase tail American EnglishAmE informal to try to get a woman to have sex with you 追女人,求欢 n COLLOCATIONSadjectiveslongSome dinosaurs had long necks and equally long tails.
shortIts tail is short and pointed.
bushy (=with long thick fur)My cat has a soft bushy tail.
a prehensile tail technical (=able to hold things)Many monkeys have prehensile tails.
verbsa dog wags its tail/its tail wagsDomino rushed to meet her, tail wagging with excitement.
a cow/cat etc swishes its tail (=quickly moves it from side to side)The cow wandered off, swishing her tail.
tail + NOUNtail feathersThe bird’s wings and tail feathers were a beautiful purple color.
COMMON ERRORSDon’t say ‘wave its tail’ or ‘shake its tail’. Say wag its tail.