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