tail
tail — 名詞
- tailsingular
- tailsplural
1. the long narrow appendage that grows from the hind section of a creature, servin
尾巴
動物身體後方突出的可動部位
the long narrow appendage that grows from the hind section of a creature, serving purposes such as communication, maintaining balance, or steering
The dog wagged her tail when Rohan walked through the door.
Rohan 一走進門，那隻狗就開心地搖起尾巴。
wag + tail for happiness
A cat uses its long tail to keep balance when it jumps between walls.
貓用長長的尾巴在跳過牆壁之間時保持平衡。
tail for balance
The peacock spread its colourful tail feathers to attract a mate in the park.
孔雀在公園裡張開色彩鮮豔的尾羽來吸引伴侶。
Lien spotted a rabbit with a small white tail disappear into the bushes.
Lien 看到一隻長著小白尾巴的兔子消失在灌木叢中。
- wag its tail
- long tail
- bushy tail
- tail feathers
用法筆記
Often used in expressions involving animal behaviour — 'wag its tail' (happiness), 'tuck its tail' (fear), 'swish its tail' (irritation).
常見錯誤
2. an individual employed to observe someone's comings and goings without their kno
盯梢者
秘密跟蹤他人以收集情報的人
an individual employed to observe someone's comings and goings without their knowledge, often for police or investigative purposes
The detective put a tail on the suspect after getting a tip from an informant.
警探接到線人通報後，便派了人盯住那位嫌疑人。
put a tail on someone — assign surveillance
Yara noticed a tail following her car as she drove through the city centre.
Yara 開車經過市中心時，發現有人在跟蹤她的車。
The agency assigned two tails to watch the warehouse entrance all night.
調查局派了兩名跟監人員徹夜監視倉庫入口。
Lucía spotted a tail parked across the street from her apartment building.
Lucía 發現公寓對街停了一輛跟蹤者的車。
- put a tail on
- lost his tail
- pick up a tail
用法筆記
Frequently used in crime or espionage contexts. The collocation 'put a tail on someone' means to assign someone to follow that person.
3. the face of a coin bearing a number or symbol rather than a person's portrait, u
反面
硬幣沒有人頭像的那一面
the face of a coin bearing a number or symbol rather than a person's portrait, used as one of two possible results in a coin toss
Esme flipped a coin and called tails before it hit the ground.
Esme 擲了一枚硬幣，在落地前喊了反面。
call tails — predict the outcome in coin toss
Heads or tails — you choose, and the winner buys coffee.
正面還是反面——你選，贏的人請喝咖啡。
The coin landed on tails three times in a row, which seemed unlikely.
那枚硬幣連續三次落在反面，感覺不太可能。
Layla bet on tails and won enough money to buy ice cream for everyone.
Layla 賭反面並且贏了足夠買冰淇淋給大家的錢。
- heads or tails
- call tails
- land on tails
- reverse
formal term for the back side of a coin, medal, or flag.
- heads
the side of a coin showing a portrait.
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed pair 'heads or tails' when tossing a coin to decide something. 'Tails' can be treated as either singular or plural.
4. the last or rearmost part of something, such as a line of people, a vehicle, a p
後部；末尾
隊伍、車輛或時間的最後部分
the last or rearmost part of something, such as a line of people, a vehicle, a procession, or a period of time
Liam stood at the tail of the long queue outside the concert hall.
Liam 站在音樂廳外長長隊伍的尾巴上。
tail of the queue — very back of a line
The tail of the storm brought heavy rain to the coastal towns.
暴風雨的尾端為沿海城鎮帶來了豪雨。
Naoko could see the tail of the ship disappearing into the evening fog.
Naoko 看著船尾消失在傍晚的薄霧中。
The tail of the parade featured children waving flags and blowing whistles.
遊行隊伍的尾巴是由揮舞旗幟和吹著哨子的孩子們組成的。
- tail of the queue
- tail of the storm
- tail end
用法筆記
When used to mean 'the last part of a period of time', it is commonly found in phrases like 'the tail end of the week' or 'the tail end of the meeting'.
5. a man's formal jacket with a short front and two long pieces of material hanging
燕尾服
男士正式場合穿的後面有兩片長尾的禮服
a man's formal jacket with a short front and two long pieces of material hanging from the back, typically worn to weddings, galas, or state dinners
William wore a white tie and tails to the state dinner at the palace.
William 穿著白色領結和燕尾服出席王宮的國宴。
wore tails — formal dress code
The orchestra conductor stepped onto the stage in a crisp black tailcoat.
交響樂團指揮穿著筆挺的黑色燕尾服走上舞台。
Renting tails for the gala cost more than Christopher had expected.
為了這場盛會租一套燕尾服的費用比 Christopher 預期的還高。
The bride's father stood at the altar looking elegant in his grey tails.
新娘的父親穿著優雅的灰色燕尾服站在祭壇前。
- white tie and tails
- wear tails
- in tails
- tailcoat
the full formal name for the jacket itself.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural form 'tails' to refer to the complete outfit including the tailcoat. 'White tie and tails' is the most formal Western dress code.
6. the round, soft area on which a person sits, located at the lower back of the bo
臀部
人坐下時身體接觸椅面的部位
the round, soft area on which a person sits, located at the lower back of the body
Ryan slipped on the wet floor and landed right on his tail.
Ryan 在濕滑的地板上滑倒，一屁股摔在地上。
Mira told the toddler to sit on her tail and wait for dinner.
Mira 叫那幼兒坐在屁股上等著吃晚餐。
sit on your tail — informal for sit down
Kenji got a bruise on his tail after falling off his bicycle.
Kenji 從腳踏車上摔下來，屁股上瘀青了一塊。
His father gave him a gentle tap on the tail to hurry him up the stairs.
他爸爸輕輕拍了一下他的屁股，催他快點上樓。
tap on the tail — pat on the bottom
- sit on your tail
- land on your tail
- fall on your tail
用法筆記
Informal and slightly childish or playful. Considered less vulgar than slang terms but not appropriate for formal or medical writing. 'Backside' is a neutral alternative.
7. in grammar, a short expression placed after a statement that repeats or refers t
句尾附加語
加在句尾重複或指涉前述內容的短語
in grammar, a short expression placed after a statement that repeats or refers to earlier information, as in 'It's cold, isn't it?'
In spoken English, tag questions like "aren't you" are a common type of tail.
在口語英語中，像「aren't you」這類附加問句是一種常見的句尾附加語。
Linguists call a short phrase at the end of a statement a tail when it repeats the subject.
語言學家把句子末尾重複主詞的短語稱為句尾附加語。
tail in grammar as a sentence-final phrase
Sari used the tail "right" at the end of her sentence to check for agreement.
Sari 在句尾加了「right」這個附加語來徵求對方的同意。
In some dialects, speakers add the tail "eh" to turn a statement into a question.
在某些方言中，說話者會在句尾加上「eh」這個附加語，把陳述句變成疑問句。
- tag question tail
- sentence tail
- add a tail
- tag question
a specific type of tail — a question added to the end of a statement.
用法筆記
This is a technical term in linguistics and grammar study. The most common tails in English are tag questions ('isn't it?', 'won't you?') and fixed phrases like 'right?' or 'okay?'.
8. the group of batters who bat at the lowest positions in a cricket team's batting
尾棒打者
板球比賽中排名最後、技術較差的打擊者
the group of batters who bat at the lowest positions in a cricket team's batting order, usually consisting of less experienced or less skilled players
The tail collapsed quickly, and the team was all out for a low score.
尾棒打者很快就出局了，全隊以低分結束比賽。
the tail — collective term for lower-order batters
Ravindra was promoted up the order because the tail had failed in the previous match.
Ravindra 被往前調到較高的打擊順位，因為上一場比賽的尾棒打者表現不佳。
A strong tail can add fifty valuable runs in the final innings of a test match.
實力堅強的尾棒打者可以在測試賽的最後一局追加五十多分。
The team's tail managed to survive the last ten overs and save the match.
該隊的尾棒打者成功撐過最後十局，保住了比賽。
- the tail collapsed
- tail wagged
- bowl out the tail
- lower order
the more formal term for the same group of batters.
- tailenders
individual batters who bat in the tail positions.
- top order
the first batters in the batting order, typically the most skilled.
用法筆記
Always used with the definite article ('the tail') when referring to the group of batters. Individual batters in this group are called 'tailenders'.
turn tail
idiomto turn around and run away quickly, especially from a fight or dangerous situation
轉身逃跑；臨陣脫逃
As soon as the older boys shouted at them, the younger kids turned tail and ran home.
The fox turned tail when it heard the farmer's shotgun from across the field.
feeling ashamed, defeated, or humiliated after a failure or setback
夾著尾巴；灰溜溜地；垂頭喪氣
After losing the debate badly, Lucía walked off the stage with her tail between her legs.
The team had to go home with their tails between their legs after the worst loss of the season.
a situation in which a small or unimportant part of something controls or dominates the larger or more important part
尾巴搖狗；小人物掌大權；本末倒置
Letting one intern decide the schedule is like the tail wagging the dog around here.
Critics argued that the committee was the tail wagging the dog, overriding the full board.
to be completely unable to understand something, such as a confusing explanation or a badly written message
完全搞不懂；一頭霧水
Sade stared at the map for ten minutes but could not make head nor tail of the directions.
The instructions were so poorly translated that Layla could not make head nor tail of them.
chase your tail
idiomto be very busy doing many things but achieving very little, often because of poor organisation
瞎忙；白費力氣
Élise spent the whole morning chasing her tail and got nothing ready for the meeting.
Without a proper system, the support team is just chasing its tail all day.
on someone's tail
idiomfollowing someone very closely, either physically or in a competitive situation
緊跟在某人後面；緊追不捨
The police car was right on the suspect's tail throughout the highway chase.
In the final lap, the second runner was hot on the leader's tail.
a sting in the tail
idioman unpleasant or surprising part that appears at the end of a story, event, or agreement
結尾的意外轉折；尾部的陷阱
The contract looked generous, but the sting in the tail was a ten-year commitment clause.
The movie had a sting in the tail that no one in the audience expected.
nose to tail
idiomwith vehicles positioned very close to one another in a long, slow-moving line
（車輛）首尾相連；大排長龍
Traffic was moving nose to tail for miles after the accident on the motorway.
Cars sat nose to tail along the coastal road during the holiday weekend.
heads or tails
idiomused when asking which side of a coin will face upward after it is tossed, as a way of deciding something by chance
正面還是反面（擲硬幣決定）
Zuri asked, "Heads or tails?" before flipping the coin to decide who would go first.
They settled the argument with a quick game of heads or tails.
To not be able to understand something at all.
完全搞不懂
Sara couldn't make head nor tail of the complex instructions.
Can you make head or tail of this messy diagram?
To spend a lot of time and effort doing things that do not achieve anything useful.
瞎忙一場
Maya felt she was just chasing her tail at work all day.
Stop chasing your tail and focus on one task at a time.
heads or tails?
idiomA question asked when flipping a coin to decide something randomly.
正面還是反面？
Diego asked, "Heads or tails?" before flipping the coin.
We couldn't decide, so we said, "Heads or tails?" to choose.
on somebody’s tail
idiomFollowing very closely behind someone, especially while driving.
緊跟在某人後面
A red car was on my tail for the last five miles.
The police car stayed on the suspect's tail until he stopped.
A situation where a less important thing controls a more important one.
尾巴搖狗；本末倒置
In that company, the interns are the tail wagging the dog.
Letting one complaint change the whole plan is the tail wagging the dog.
Feeling ashamed or defeated after a failure or punishment.
夾著尾巴；垂頭喪氣
After losing the match, Brian walked away with his tail between his legs.
The team left the field with their tails between their legs after the defeat.
tail — 動詞
- tailpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tails3rd person singular
- tailing-ing form
- tailedpast simple
1. to track a person's movements stealthily, typically as a detective or investigat
跟蹤
暗中跟隨以觀察某人的行蹤
to track a person's movements stealthily, typically as a detective or investigator trying to gather evidence
The private detective tailed the businessman for three days across the city.
那名私家偵探在城裡跟蹤了那位商人整整三天。
tail + person as direct object
A plainclothes officer tailed the suspect from the train station to the hotel lobby.
一名便衣警察從火車站一路跟蹤嫌疑人到飯店大廳。
Ravindra realised someone had been tailing his car since he left the office.
Ravindra 發現從他離開辦公室後就一直有人在跟蹤他的車。
The undercover agent tailed the group through narrow streets without being seen.
臥底探員穿梭在狹窄的街道上跟蹤那群人，始終沒有被發現。
- tail a suspect
- tail someone
- be tailed by
文法句型
tail + person
用法筆記
Used in detective fiction and crime reports. 'Tail' emphasizes stealthy, continuous following — not a casual or brief look. The passive form ('be tailed') is common in news reports.
常見錯誤
2. to cut off the end part of a fruit, vegetable, or a creature's rear extension as
去尾
切掉水果或動物的末端
to cut off the end part of a fruit, vegetable, or a creature's rear extension as part of cooking preparation or animal care
Isabela tailed the strawberries before adding them to the fruit salad.
Isabela 把草莓的蒂切掉後放進水果沙拉裡。
tail + fruit for removing the stem/end
The farmer tailed the lambs shortly after they were born.
農夫在小羊出生後不久就替牠們斷了尾。
The okra was tailed before being added to the stew.
秋葵去掉頭尾之後才放進燉菜裡。
passive: tail + produce
The kitchen assistant spent the afternoon tailing rhubarb for the pie filling.
廚房助手花了一整個下午處理大黃莖，準備用來做派餡。
tailing [produce] for [purpose]
- tail strawberries
- tail beans
- tail a lamb
文法句型
tail + noun
用法筆記
More common in British English for fruit/vegetable preparation. For animal tail removal, 'dock' is the more standard term.
tail — 形容詞
- tailpositive
- tailercomparative
- tailestsuperlative
1. relating to a legal arrangement that limits the inheritance of land or property
限定繼承的
法律上限制財產繼承權的
relating to a legal arrangement that limits the inheritance of land or property to a specific person or group, so that it cannot be sold freely
The estate was held in tail, meaning only the eldest son could inherit it.
這筆地產屬於限定繼承，只有長子才能繼承。
held in tail — legal phrase for restricted inheritance
A tail estate prevents the current owner from selling the property to outsiders.
限定繼承的產業禁止現任地主將財產出售給外人。
The lawyer explained that the land was tail property under the old family settlement.
律師解釋說，根據古老的家族協議，這塊土地屬於限定繼承產業。
Under the terms of the will, the manor was granted in tail male to the eldest heir.
根據遺囑條款，這座莊園限定由長子繼承。
- held in tail
- tail estate
- fee tail
- entailed
the more common modern adjective for this legal restriction.
- freehold
full ownership without inheritance restrictions.
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in historical legal contexts. The modern equivalent is 'fee tail'. Most learners will encounter this only in literature or historical documents. The phrase 'in tail' appears in fixed legal expressions.