The phrase "tails away" is commonly used in horse racing, referring to a horse that falls behind the rest of the pack. The spelling of the word "tails" is pronounced /teɪlz/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The sound /eɪ/ represents the long "a" sound, while the letter "z" at the end of the word indicates a voiced ending. The pronunciation of "away" is /əˈweɪ/, using the schwa sound /ə/ in the unstressed syllable and the long "a" sound in the stressed syllable.
"Tails away" is a phrase that is primarily used to describe the movement or behavior of animals, specifically referring to the way their tails are positioned or in motion. This term is commonly employed to depict animals when their tails are lowered or drooping downwards, indicating either a lack of excitement or energy, or possibly feelings of sadness, disappointment, or defeat.
The phrase can be extended to signify a gradual fading or diminishing of something in a non-animal context, as well. In such instances, it implies a gradual decline or decrease in enthusiasm, interest, or vigor, similar to the way a drooping tail visually denotes a lack of excitement in animals.
Moreover, "tails away" can also refer to the practice of betting on horse racing, where punters can place wagers based on predicted outcomes. In this context, "tails away" describes a particular bet or betting strategy focusing on selecting horses that have been displaying a consistent decrease in performance or form in the recent past.
Overall, "tails away" is a versatile phrase that encompasses several contexts and connotations, from describing the physical position of an animal's tail to symbolizing a decline or lack of vigor, or acting as a betting strategy in horse racing.