🏃♂️ Turn Tail, To: Making a Hasty Retreat 🏃♀️
To turn one’s back on; to run away.
Imagine you’re in the sixteenth century, and someone challenges you to a duel. Rather than face the music like a fearless warrior, you turn tail and dash for the hills. This idiom conveys the vivid image of showing your back-end while fleeing in a panic.
First recorded by Robert Greene in 1587’s “Euphues His Censure” (“Such a haggarde as would turne taile to a full fist”), it flawlessly captures the essence of running away from a daunting situation.
Related & Similar Terms:
- Beat a hasty retreat: Run away quickly.
- Throw in the towel: Give up.
- Jump ship: Abandon a cause or project.
- Back down: Recede from confrontation.
Synonyms:
- Retreat
- Flee
- Skedaddle
- Bolt
Antonyms:
- Stand one’s ground
- Face the music
- Hold fast
- Stand firm
Humor-Filled Quotes:
“Bravery comes in many forms, but none quicker than when someone decides to turn tail and run.”
Proverbs:
- “He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.”
Literature & Books:
- Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - often full of young Huck either getting into or running from trouble.
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - Characters often have to decide between facing danger or turning tail.
Songs:
- “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls.
Movies:
- Forrest Gump - “Run, Forrest, run!” tells you all you need to know.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - When the Orcs attack, retreat may seem cowardly but often the wise move!
Poetry:
- “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost - Contemplates choices but could echo sentiments of retreating from the path of confrontation.
Until Next Time 🏞️
Remember, not all who run are cowards; sometimes the best strategy is a fully organized retreat. Be it life’s little obstacles or more significant conundrums, choose your battles wisely. Keep exploring the wondrous world of idioms and let your curiosity guide you!
Yours in lexical adventures, A. K. Scruitch
Published on October 3, 2023
