1 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Of sound or speech) To gradually become quieter until it is barely audible
"Her voice tailed away as she realized no one was listening."
inseparable
tail away
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To gradually decrease, weaken, or diminish, especially of a sound or trend
In plain English
Get smaller, quieter, or weaker little by little until it almost disappears
What does "tail away" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Of performance, numbers, or enthusiasm) To gradually decline over time
"Attendances tailed away in the second half of the season as the team dropped down the table."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
A tail that moves away — the image of something trailing off like an animal's tail disappearing into the distance.
Actually means
Get smaller, quieter, or weaker little by little until it almost disappears
Usage tip
Less common than 'tail off', which is the preferred form in most varieties of English. Both verbs are used for sound, economic indicators, performance, and enthusiasm. More common in British English.
Words that pair with "tail away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
voice sound support enthusiasm profits performance
How to conjugate "tail away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tail away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tails away
he/she/it
Past simple
tailed away
yesterday
Past participle
tailed away
have + pp
-ing form
tailing away
continuous
Hear "tail away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "tail away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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