尻尾を巻く · godan verb (-ku)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 尻尾を巻く | 尻尾を巻かない |
| Polite | 尻尾を巻きます | 尻尾を巻きません |
| Past polite | 尻尾を巻きました | 尻尾を巻きませんでした |
| Past | 尻尾を巻いた | 尻尾を巻かなかった |
| Te-form | 尻尾を巻いて | 尻尾を巻かないで |
| Desire | 尻尾を巻きたい | 尻尾を巻きたくない |
| Potential | 尻尾を巻ける | 尻尾を巻けない |
| Passive | 尻尾を巻かれる | 尻尾を巻かれない |
| Causative | 尻尾を巻かせる | 尻尾を巻かせない |
| Causative passive | 尻尾を巻かせられるalso 尻尾を巻かされる | 尻尾を巻かせられないalso 尻尾を巻かされない |
| Volitional | 尻尾を巻こう | |
| Polite volitional | 尻尾を巻きましょう | |
| Imperative | 尻尾を巻け | 尻尾を巻くな |
| Conditional | 尻尾を巻けば | 尻尾を巻かなければ |
| Tara conditional | 尻尾を巻いたら | 尻尾を巻かなかったら |
tuck one's tail between one's legs; admit defeat; turn tail and run
Idiomatic expression describing someone backing down, retreating, or admitting defeat after acting boldly, likened to a dog tucking its tail in submission.
He was so confident, but after being scolded by his boss, he tucked his tail and ran.
Having lost the argument, he completely admitted defeat.