english
1
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with TAIL, Also see BRIGHT-EYED AND BUSHY-TAILED; CAN'T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF; GET OFF ONE'S TAIL; HEADS OR TAILS; IN TWO SHAKES (OF A LAMB'S TAIL); ON SOMEONE'S COATTAILS; TIGER BY THE TAIL; TURN TAIL; WORK ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE (TAIL OFF).
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
noun
rear end:
The monkey uses its tail to climb.
verb
trails:
Nevada tails other states in population.
Simple Definitions
3
general::
tail off
to reduce in amount or become lower in level
• His voice tailed off as he drifted into sleep.
• The profits tailed off after a few years., tail back
UK
If traffic tails back, it forms a long line and moves very slowly or stops
• There is traffic tailing back along the motorway for ten miles because of road repairs.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
4
general::
tail
adjectives
long
• Some dinosaurs had long necks and equally long tails.
short
• Its 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.
verbs
a dog wags its tail/its tail wags
• Domino 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 + NOUN
tail feathers
• The bird’s wings and tail feathers were a beautiful purple color.
COMMON ERRORS
>>> Do not say ' wave its tail ' or ' shake its tail '. Say wag its tail .
transnet.ir
5
general::
noun of an animal, a bird, etc. ADJ. long | short | bushy, curly, curved, forked, pointed | muscular, prehensile VERB + TAIL flick, swish, thrash, wag, whisk The dog wagged its tail furiously. | dock It used to be fashionable to dock horses' tails. TAIL + VERB twitch, wag, wave The dog ran out with its tail wagging madly. TAIL + NOUN feathers, fin of a thing TAIL + NOUN section The plane's tail section had broken off. | fin, light PREP. at the ~ the truck at the tail of our convoy PHRASES nose to tail Traffic which used to be nose to tail now flows freely.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary