Х-20

В ХВОСТЕ (чего, occas. кого) идти, плестись, оказаться, оставить кого и т. п. PrepP Invar adv, subj-compl with copula (subj: human or collect) , or obj-compl with оставить etc obj: human or collect) ) (to be) unable to keep up with some person or group, or (to leave some person or group) behind one and unable to keep up as one progresses ahead: (lag (trail, fall, leave s.o. lagging, leave s.o. trailing etc)) behind (be) at the tail (tag) end (of sth. ) (in refer, to studies only) (be) at the bottom of the class.

(Генерал:) ...По чьей вине следователи все ещё плетутся в хвосте? По вине руководителей отделов, да! (Солженицын 9). (General:) . .Whose fault is it that the investigators are trailing behind? It's the fault of the heads of departments, yes! (9a).

R - всё тот же, всё тот же. По Тэйлору и математике - он всегда шёл в хвосте (Замятин 1). R. is the same as ever. In Taylor and in mathematics he was always at the bottom of the class (1a)