turning tail
Beating hasty retreat
Turning tail is running away or retreating, especially in a way that suggests cowardice.
The image is of an animal or person spinning around to flee, showing their backside to the threat: The soldiers turned tail when they saw the size of the enemy force.
He turned tail and ran at the first sign of trouble.
- cowardiceAbsence of bravery
- running scaredEscaping in panic
- fleeDepart swiftly from threat
- run awayDepart hastily to escape
- cut and runAbandon situation hastily
fear · cold feet · capitulation · white flag · surrender · retreat · beat a retreat · bolt · taking flight · backtrack · shame · withdraw · bail out · panic · desertion · skedaddle · escape · abandonment
turning tailstanding ground
Refusing to yield position
standing one's ground · digging in · facing the music · sticking it out · standing tall
turning tailadvancing
Moving in forward direction
charging · attacking · counterattacking · pushing on · storming
turn, tail, turning, turned, turns, turner, turners, tails, tailed