tail between legs
(your) tail between (your) legs
feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
After playing so badly for the entire game, the team walked off with their tails between their legs.

Etymology: based on the behavior of dogs, who will put their tails between their legs when someone speaks angrily to them

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tail between one's legs
feeling ashamed or beaten or humiliated (like a frightened dog as it walks away)
The salesman resigned from his company with his tail between his legs after he told a lie about his expense account.

The salesman was forced to leave the company with his tail between his legs after he lied about his sales figures.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tail between one's legs
n. phr. State of feeling beaten, ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping.
The army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs.
The boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they went home with their tails between their legs. (So called because a beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks away.)

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲