turn tail

Beat hasty retreat

To turn tail is to flee or retreat, especially in a cowardly or panicked way.

The image is of an animal spinning around to run, showing its hindquarters: When the police arrived, the burglars turned tail.

The phrase usually carries a note of contempt or self-criticism for abandoning a situation rather than facing it.

flee

bolt

Threaded rod for nuts

dashQuick burst or pinch
skedaddleDepart hastily, often fearfully
hightailDepart with urgency

scamper · scurry · sprint · gallop · scuttle · vamoose · abscond · decamp · scram · hotfoot

cowardice

chicken out

Withdraw due to fear

cowerShrink back in dread
shrinkDecrease in size
flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat

cave · wimp out · funk · yellow · gutless · spineless · craven · faint-hearted · pusillanimous · timid

retreat

withdraw

Remove or pull away

backpedalReverse one's stance
fall backWithdraw from advance
pull backTo retreat or disengage

disengage · retire · recede · evacuate · recoil · back away · back off · give ground · withdraw · about-face

Categories

cowardicecoward, cowardly, craven, gutless, spineless
turn phrasesabout face
escapeescape, flee, run away, get away, flight

Opposites

courage and confrontation

turn tailstand one's ground

Refuse to back down

stand firm · hold one's ground · face the music · hold fast · dig in

military/tactical movement

turn tailadvance

Move or progress forward

charge · attack · press forward · push forward · engage

Family

turn, tail, retreat, turning, turned, rotate, turns, tailed, tailless

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G