tails
[tˈelz] /ˈtāl How to pronounce tail (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tails — 名詞
1. the parts that extend from the backs of animals, or similar rear sections on thi
尾巴
動物或物體後方像尾巴的部分
the parts that extend from the backs of animals, or similar rear sections on things such as kites, aircraft, or comets
The horses swished their tails to chase flies from the stable.
那些馬甩動尾巴，把蒼蠅從馬廄裡趕走。
swish their tails
Two fox tails hung above the market stall beside wool hats.
兩條狐狸尾巴掛在市場攤位上方，旁邊擺著羊毛帽。
The kites had long paper tails that fluttered over the beach.
那些風箏拖著長長的紙尾巴，在海灘上空飄動。
The planes' tails showed different airline logos at the snowy airport.
那些飛機的尾翼在飄雪的機場裡顯示出不同的航空公司標誌。
用法筆記
This plural form often appears when talking about several animals or several objects with tail-like back parts.
2. people secretly assigned to stay close behind someone and note that person's mov
跟監者
暗中跟著別人蒐集情報的人
people secretly assigned to stay close behind someone and note that person's movements
The reporter spotted two tails outside the hotel after midnight.
那名記者在午夜過後看見旅館外有兩名跟監者。
two tails outside the hotel
Police put tails on the gang leaders before the cash pickup.
警方在現金交收前先派人跟監那幾名幫派頭目。
put tails on someone
Mina lost the tails when she switched trains at Banqiao Station.
Mina 在板橋站換車時甩掉了那些跟監者。
The smugglers checked mirrors often to see whether tails were behind them.
那些走私犯一直看後視鏡，想確認後面是不是有跟監者。
用法筆記
Common in police, detective, and crime-story contexts. It refers to the watchers, not the act of following.
3. the non-portrait face of a coin, especially the result chosen in a coin toss
反面
硬幣沒有人頭像的那一面
the non-portrait face of a coin, especially the result chosen in a coin toss
Sora called tails before Christopher flipped the coin for first serve.
Christopher 擲硬幣決定誰先發球前，Sora 先喊了反面。
call tails
The coin landed on tails, so our table got the window seats.
硬幣落在反面，所以我們這桌坐到了窗邊座位。
land on tails
Heads or tails settled the argument over who washed the dishes.
大家用正面還是反面來決定誰去洗碗，爭論就此結束。
Three tails in a row made Quinn laugh at the strange luck.
連續三次都是反面，讓 Quinn 對這種怪運氣笑了出來。
用法筆記
Usually appears in the fixed pair 'heads or tails' or when someone predicts the result of a coin toss.
4. formal evening dress with a tailcoat, especially the outfit worn with a white ti
燕尾服
白領結場合穿的正式晚禮服
formal evening dress with a tailcoat, especially the outfit worn with a white tie dress code
Anthony rented tails for the embassy gala on Saturday night.
Anthony 為了星期六晚上的大使館晚會租了燕尾服。
rent tails
The conductor appeared in tails before the orchestra began tuning.
指揮穿著燕尾服現身時，樂團還在調音。
in tails
Guests in tails waited beside the marble staircase for photos.
穿著燕尾服的賓客在大理石樓梯旁等著拍照。
Only men in tails were allowed into the royal ballroom.
只有穿燕尾服的男士才獲准進入那間皇家舞廳。
- tailcoat
the jacket itself rather than the full outfit.
用法筆記
This plural form often refers to the whole outfit, not only the jacket. 'White tie and tails' is a fixed dress-code phrase.
5. a person's buttocks, used in a playful or childish way
屁股
人坐下時接觸座位的部位
a person's buttocks, used in a playful or childish way
The kids scooted down the slide on their tails instead of standing.
那些孩子不肯站好，反而用屁股一路往下滑。
on their tails
Selim fell backward and landed hard on his tails.
Selim 往後一跌，重重地摔在屁股上。
Talia rubbed her tails after the long ride on the wooden bench.
Talia 坐了很久那張硬木長椅後，揉了揉自己的屁股。
The clowns bounced on their tails to make the children laugh.
那些小丑用屁股一彈一彈地逗孩子們發笑。
用法筆記
This sense is informal and playful. Neutral choices like 'bottom' or 'buttocks' fit better in serious situations.
6. short phrases added at the ends of sentences that refer back to earlier words, s
句尾附加語
加在句末指回前文的短語
short phrases added at the ends of sentences that refer back to earlier words, such as question tags
Our teacher highlighted tails like 'isn't it' during the grammar lesson.
老師在文法課上特別標出像「isn't it」這類句尾附加語。
tails like 'isn't it'
Students practised adding tails to statements before the speaking test.
學生在口說測驗前練習把句尾附加語加在陳述句後面。
adding tails to statements
The worksheet asks learners to match sentence tails with main clauses.
那張講義要學習者把句尾附加語和主要子句配對起來。
Linguists compare English tails with similar tags in Cantonese.
語言學家把英語的句尾附加語和粵語中的類似語尾作比較。
- tag questions
a narrower type of sentence tail.
用法筆記
This technical sense appears in grammar study, especially when teachers discuss tag questions and other sentence-final tags.
tails — 動詞
- tailspresent simple I / you / we / they
- tailses3rd person singular
- tailsing-ing form
- tailsedpast simple
1. to follow someone quietly and keep watch on that person's movements, usually to
跟蹤
暗中一路跟著並觀察
to follow someone quietly and keep watch on that person's movements, usually to gather information
The detective tails the suspect from the bank to the ferry.
那名警探從銀行一路跟蹤嫌疑人到渡輪碼頭。
tail + person
A news van tails the mayor whenever a scandal reaches television.
每當醜聞上了電視，就會有新聞車跟蹤市長。
The security app warns Elena when a stranger tails her home.
當有陌生人一路跟著 Elena 回家時，安全程式就會發出警告。
The camera drone tails the rescue boat through heavy rain.
那台攝影無人機在大雨中一路跟著救援船。
文法句型
tail + person
用法筆記
This verb suggests deliberate, usually secret watching. It is more specific than ordinary 'follow'.
常見錯誤
2. to hang or move behind something else, often in a loose, stretched-out line
拖在後面
在後方拖著或拉成散線
to hang or move behind something else, often in a loose, stretched-out line
A long line of campers tails behind the guide on narrow paths.
一長列露營客在狹窄山徑上拖拖拉拉地跟在嚮導後面。
tail behind
Smoke tails behind the truck after the first cold start.
卡車冷車發動後，煙霧拖在車後久久不散。
The ribbon tails behind the bicycle in the sea wind.
那條緞帶在海風裡拖在腳踏車後面。
One broken cable tails along the road after the storm.
暴風雨過後，一條斷掉的電纜拖在路面後方。
文法句型
tail + behind
tail + along
用法筆記
This rare sense describes a line, strip, or group stretching out behind something.
3. to become gradually smaller, weaker, fainter, or less dense
逐漸減弱
慢慢變小、變淡或散開
to become gradually smaller, weaker, fainter, or less dense
The applause tails off after the final bow and curtain call.
最後一次謝幕後，掌聲就慢慢弱了下去。
tail off
Her voice tails away when the bad memory returns.
壞回憶一浮現，她的聲音就慢慢低了下來。
The music tails off as the guests leave the hall.
客人離開大廳時，音樂也漸漸停了。
Rain tails away by dawn, leaving the stone streets quiet.
雨勢到黎明前慢慢退去，石板街重新安靜下來。
文法句型
tail away
tail off
用法筆記
Often appears with particles such as 'off' and 'away' when something slowly weakens or disappears.
4. to cut off the tail, stem, or bottom end of an animal or object
去尾；去蒂
切掉尾部、莖部或末端
to cut off the tail, stem, or bottom end of an animal or object
The cook tails the beans before dropping them into boiling water.
廚師把豆子的尾端切掉後，才把它們放進滾水裡。
tail + food item
The farmer tails the lambs only with veterinary advice.
那位農夫只在獸醫建議下才替小羊斷尾。
A kitchen helper tails the strawberries beside the sink.
一名廚房助手在水槽邊把草莓的蒂一顆顆去掉。
The factory tails the prawns before freezing tonight's catch.
工廠把今晚漁獲的蝦去尾後再冷凍。
文法句型
tail + food
tail + animal
用法筆記
In food preparation, this verb means trimming the end off produce or seafood. In animal care, 'dock' is often the more specific word.
5. to connect one length or section to another by joining the end of one to the end
首尾相接
把東西前後接起來
to connect one length or section to another by joining the end of one to the end of the other
The technician tails two cables to reach the backup generator.
技師把兩條電纜首尾接起來，讓電力能送到備用發電機。
tail two cables
An engineer tails fresh wire onto the damaged section.
工程師把新電線接到受損段的尾端上。
tail onto
The jeweller tails silver links into a longer chain.
珠寶師把銀環一節節接起來，做成更長的鍊子。
One carpenter tails new boards onto the old dock frame.
一名木匠把新木板接到舊碼頭的框架尾端。
文法句型
tail + object + onto
用法筆記
This rare technical sense appears when materials are physically joined in sequence.
6. to give something a tail or a tail-like part
裝尾巴
加上尾狀部分
to give something a tail or a tail-like part
The costume designer tails the dragon suit with bright silk strips.
服裝設計師用亮色絲帶替那套龍裝裝上尾巴。
tail + object + with
The artist tails each paper fish with a strip of blue cloth.
那位藝術家替每條紙魚都加上一條藍布尾巴。
The toy maker tails the wooden horse with soft black yarn.
玩具製作者用柔軟黑毛線替木馬裝尾巴。
The repair shop tails the festival lion with fresh red fur.
維修店替祭典舞獅換上新的紅色尾毛。
文法句型
tail + object + with
用法筆記
This very rare sense means adding a tail-shaped part to something, often in craft or costume work.