wag

[ wag ]

verb (used with object)

, wagged, wag·ging.

1. to move from side to side, forward and backward, or up and down, especially rapidly and repeatedly:

   a dog wagging its tail.

2. to move (the tongue), as in idle or indiscreet chatter.
3. to shake (a finger) at someone, as in reproach.
4. to move or nod (the head).

verb (used without object)

, wagged, wag·ging.

1. to be moved from side to side or one way and the other, especially rapidly and repeatedly, as the head or the tail.
2. to move constantly, especially in idle or indiscreet chatter:

   Her behavior caused local tongues to wag.

3. to get along; travel; proceed:

   Let the world wag how it will.

4. to totter or sway.
5. British Slang. to play truant; play hooky.

noun

1. the act of wagging:

   a friendly wag of the tail.

2. a person given to droll, roguish, or mischievous humor; wit.

WAG

¹

abbreviation for

1. (West Africa) Gambia (international car registration)

wag

²

/ wæɡ /

noun

1. a humorous or jocular person; wit

Wag

³

/ wæɡ /

noun

1. informal.
   the wife or girlfriend of a famous sportsman

wag

⁴

/ wæɡ /

verb

1. to move or cause to move rapidly and repeatedly from side to side or up and down
2. to move (the tongue) or (of the tongue) to be moved rapidly in talking, esp in idle gossip
3. to move (the finger) or (of the finger) to be moved from side to side, in or as in admonition
4. slang.
   to play truant (esp in the phrase wag it )

noun

1. the act or an instance of wagging

Derived Forms

• ˈwaggishness, noun
• ˈwaggishly, adverb
• ˈwaggish, adjective
• ˈwaggery, noun

Other Words From

• wagger noun
• un·wagged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wag¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English waggen, from Old Norse vaga “to sway,” or from vagga “cradle”

Word History and Origins

Origin of wag¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Origin of wag²

C21: a back formation from an acronym for w ( ives ) a ( nd ) g ( irlfriends )

Origin of wag³

C13: from Old English wagian to shake; compare Old Norse vagga cradle

Idioms and Phrases

see tail wagging the dog ; tongues wag .

Example Sentences

“I remember if I made a hit, he would stand on the sidelines and wag his finger at me. I was like, `You created this.’

From Los Angeles Times

"He was always accessible at NBA events over the years - with his infectious smile, deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation."

From BBC

Scientists have even learned that if dogs' tails wag to the right, it means they have a positive association with a specific human being — suggesting, once again, affection.

From Salon

Our favorite Supreme Court flag WAG was back in the headlines this week for a secretly recorded conversation she had with Lauren Windsor, a liberal activist who’s emerged as a sort of James O’Keefe for the left.

From Slate

"We wanted to ask 'Why?' and we wondered whether it had a function in prey capture or it was just a excitatory response like how dogs wag their tails because they are excited."

From Science Daily