tails

Shadows, as a detective

Tails is the reverse side of a coin—the side opposite the head.

In a coin flip, you call heads or tails before it lands.

Tails also refers to a tailcoat or formal evening wear with long back panels: white tie and tails.

As a verb form, tails means follows closely: A detective tails the suspect.

rear

end

Final portion or cessation

hindmostFarthest back position
backsideButtocks or rear
rumpRear body portion

posterior · tailpiece · tailend · caboose · aft · stern · afterpart · finale · conclusion · trailing

animal

wagging

Rapid side-to-side movement

swishingSoft brushing sound
bushyGrowing densely outward
fluffySoft and light-textured

prehensile · docked · bobbed · curled · ringed · striped · tucked · bristled · feline · canine

follow

shadow

Light blocked by object

surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
trailPath through wilderness
pursuitAct of chasing something

stalker · detective · sleuth · hound · track · chase · spy · tailgate · heel · tagalong

coin

heads

Top of bodies

flipQuick turning motion
tossLight, casual throw
wagerStake on uncertainty

odds · chance · probability · gamble · call · two-up · decision · random · fifty-fifty · obverse

formalwear

tuxedo

Men's formal evening attire

coattailsRear jacket panels
black-tieFormal evening dress code
white-tieStrictest evening dress code

cutaway · lapels · bowtie · cummerbund · cravat · gala · ballroom · orchestra · conductor · usher

balance

stabilizer

Thing ensuring steadiness

rudderPivoting stern blade
finAquatic propulsion appendage
counterweightBalancing mass in machinery

kite · aircraft · airplane · helicopter · rotor · aerodynamics · fuselage · glider · weathervane · streamer

Categories

animal featuresbeaks, scales, antlers, fur, ears
appendagesfins, fin, flipper, flippers, legs
binary statesyes, no, true, false, on
cosplaycosplayer, costume, props, wig, makeup
coin featuresobverse, reverse, edge, rim, field
cryptic cluesanagram, hidden, reversal, homophone, container

Opposites

coin sides

tailsheads

Top of bodies

head · obverse · face · snouts · faces

position in sequence/procession

tailsheads

Top of bodies

leads · fronts · beginnings · front · starts

formal attire type

Men's formal evening attire

dinner jacket · black tie · casual wear

Phrases

heads or tailsFlip outcome options
pin the tail on the donkeyBlindfolded targeting game
tail wagging the dogSubordinate controlling the principal
tail endConcluding portion
tail lightVehicle's back signal
wagging tailSwishing rear appendage

Family

detail, tail, retail, cocktail, curtail, tailed, entail, pigtail, hightail

Familiarity: Top 10,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G