chase one's (own) tail
(informal)rush around ineffectually
(非正式)无谓瞎忙
on someone's tail
following someone closely
紧跟,跟踪
a police car stayed on his tail for half a mile.
一辆警车在他后面跟踪了半英里。
a piece of tail
a police car stayed on his tail for half a mile.
一辆警车在他后面跟踪了半英里。
the tail of one's eye
(dated)the outer corner of one's eye
(旧)眼角
the tail wags the dog
the less important or subsidiary factor, person, or thing dominates a situation; the usual roles are reversed
尾巴摇狗(处于从属地位的人或事物控制局势;本末倒置)
the financing system is becoming the tail that wags the dog.
真是尾巴摇狗: 财务系统反而逐渐地在控制一切了。
with one's tail between one's legs
(informal)in a state of dejection or humiliation
(非正式)夹着尾巴;灰溜溜地
with one's tail up
(informal)in a confident or cheerful mood
(非正式)趾高气扬地
tail back
(Brit.)(of traffic) become congested and form a tailback
(英)(交通)堵塞排成长队
tail something in (或 into)
insert the end of a beam, stone, or brick, into (a wall)
把(梁、石头、砖的端头)嵌入(墙内)
tail off (或 away)
gradually diminish in amount, strength, or intensity
(数量、力量、强度)逐渐减弱
the economic boom was beginning to tail off.
经济迅猛发展的势头正在逐渐地减弱。
tail down
To ease a heavy load down a steep slope.
将重物缓缓移下陡坡
tail off 或 tail away
To diminish gradually; dwindle or subside
逐渐消失;变小或减弱
The fireworks tailed off into darkness.
烟火在夜空中逐渐消失