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tail

[/teɪl/]
noun/verbpl: tails
cauda
1. The rear appendage of an animal's body
The dog wagged its tail happily.
O cachorro abanava a cauda feliz.
2. The rear or trailing part of something
The tail of the comet stretched across the sky.
A cauda do cometa se estendia pelo céu.
3. To follow someone closely, often secretly
The detective decided to tail the suspect.
O detetive decidiu seguir o suspeito.
4. The side of a coin opposite to the head
I got tails when I flipped the coin.
Tirei coroa quando lancei a moeda.
Synonyms
rearendappendagefollowshadow
Antonyms
headfrontlead

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
cauda
Standard term for animal tail
Brazil
rabo
Informal/colloquial term, more commonly used in everyday speech
Portugal
cauda
Formal term; rabo is also used informally
General
seguir alguém
To tail someone (verb usage)

Related Idioms & Phrases

tail between one's legs - com o rabo entre as pernas (in shame or defeat)
tail wagging the dog - a cauda abanando o cachorro (a minor part controlling the whole)
turn tail - fugir/correr (to flee)
on someone's tail - no encalço de alguém (pursuing someone closely)
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