turn tail

Verb

Meaning

flee; take to one's heels; cut and run

Source: WordNet

Synonyms

escape run away scarper fly the coop head for the hills levant lam bolt run scram split retreat flee scat bunk
Show all synonyms

Antonyms

lodge tarry remain rest continue stop
Show all antonyms

Hypernyms

leave go away go forth

Hyponyms

fly flee take flight skedaddle

Examples

If you see this man, run! Source: Internet

The burglars escaped before the police showed up Source: Internet

Although he had promised Carolinians that the cowardly Northerners would turn tail and run at the first sight of Southern swords, he lost one of his sons to a Yankee bullet and another to a wasting disease contracted during the war. Source: Internet

At this point, Luke has so many voices in his ear insisting that he’s close to losing, it’s no wonder that his reaction to Vader’s big reveal is to turn tail and run as fast as he can. Source: Internet

In the wild, it can turn tail and run, but in its cage, all it can do is try to bite or at least act like it’s going to bite you. Source: Internet

Something Ward didn't bank on was that the yellow bellied elves would turn tail forcing the wolves to flee or face defeat. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

turn stomach turn stop turn table turn the air blue turn the boat turn the boat around