[General] trail off (v)

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vil

Key Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2007
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Student or Learner
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Bulgarian
Home Country
Bulgaria
Current Location
Bulgaria
Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to help me to find a proper interpretation of the verb in bold in the following sentences?

“How can they…” Faces Sunward trailed off, unable to finish.

Her voice trailed off in confusion.

Her voice was heard not more.

trail off = become silent, lapse into silence; pass over in silence

V.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to help me to find a proper interpretation of the verb in bold in the following sentences?

“How can they…” Faces Sunward trailed off, unable to finish.

Her voice trailed off in confusion.

Her voice was heard not more.

trail off = become silent, lapse into silence; pass over in silence

V.

It suggests that as she realised that she was confused, she continued to speak but the last few words got quieter and quieter until she stopped speaking completely, without finishing the sentence.
 
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