[1] : WordNet (r) 2.0

turn tail
     v : flee; take to one's heels; cut and run; "if you see this
         man, run"; "the burglars escaped before the police
         showed up" syn: run, scarper, lam, run away, hightail
         it, bunk, head for the hills, take to the woods, escape,
          fly the coop, break away
see also:
run scarper lam run away hightail it bunk 
head for the hills take to the woods escape fly the coop break away 

[2] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

54 moby thesaurus words for "turn tail":
   abscond, absquatulate, beat a retreat, bolt, clear out, come about,
   cut and run, decamp, depart, desert, elope, fetch about, flee, fly,
   fugitate, go awol, go about, heel, jump, jump bail, levant,
   make off, pivot, pivot about, put about, round, run, run away,
   run away from, run away with, run for it, run off, show the heels,
   skedaddle, skip, skip out, slip the cable, spin, swing,
   swing round, swivel, take french leave, take flight,
   take to flight, take wing, turn, turn about, turn around,
   turn round, veer, veer around, wheel, wheel about, whirl

Cat O Nine Tail >> C Words
Cat O Nine Tail, definition of term: Cat O Nine Tail
cat+o+nine+tail_pag1.html