tail between one's legs

Definitions

1. Defeated; in a cowardly or miserable manner.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tail, between, one's, legs.

Equivalents

Examples

“He came back home, tail between his legs.”

“"I wouldn't do that," said Mrs. MacAndrew. "I'd give⟳ him all the rope he wants. He'll come⟳ back with his tail between his legs and settle⟳ down again quite comfortably."”

“After 11 seasons set⟳ in Seattle[…] Frasier is returning to Boston, to reconquer his old Cheers-era stomping ground. “He left with his tail between his legs a little bit,” Grammer said in a recent interview.”

“Oft haue I ſeene a hot ore-weening Curre / Run⟳ backe and bite⟳, becauſe he was with-held, / Who being ſuffer'd with the Beares fell paw, / Hath clapt his taile, between his legges and cride,”

CEFR level