Definition

Noun 1. The act of following someone secretly: The covert surveillance of a person's movements, typically conducted by a detective, law enforcement officer, or investigator.

Usage

• The noun "tailing" is used to describe the specific, ongoing action or practice of secret surveillance. It is often used in contexts related to investigation, espionage, or law enforcement.
• It is commonly found in phrases like "put a tail on someone" (to initiate surveillance) or "shake a tail" (to evade surveillance).

Examples

• The private investigator specialized in the tailing of suspected insurance fraudsters.
• After noticing the constant tailing, she became paranoid and changed her route daily.
• The agent's report detailed the suspect's movements during a 48-hour tailing operation.

Advanced Usage

• "To be under tailing": To be the subject of covert surveillance.
  • The journalist believed he was under tailing by government agents.
• "To lose a tailing": To successfully evade someone who is secretly following you.
  • He took a series of sudden turns in an attempt to lose the tailing.

Variants and Related Words

• Tail (verb): To follow and observe someone secretly.
  • The detective was ordered to tail the suspect.
• Tail (noun, informal): A person who secretly follows someone.
  • We've got a tail; don't look back.
• Surveillance (noun): A broader term for close observation, which can include tailing as one method.

Synonyms

• Shadowing
• Trailing
• Following

Related Phrases

• Put a tail on [someone]: To arrange for someone to be followed.
  • The boss told us to put a tail on the new client.
• Shake a tail: To escape from someone who is following you.
  • He drove through the alley to shake the tail.

Noun

1. the act of following someone secretly