IdiomAnimals
English
Englishwith one's tail between one's legs
Meaning: Humiliated and defeated.
Example: “The team went home with their tail between their legs.”
Origin: A frightened or beaten dog tucks its tail between its legs. The figurative use is found from the 18th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Albanian: Iku me bishtin ndër shalë Literally: He left with his tail between his legs
Spanish: con el rabo entre las piernas Literally: With the tail between the legs
French: Avoir la queue entre les jambes Literally: To have one's tail between one's legs
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- soaked to the skin Completely wet.
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