rag doll

American  

noun

1. a stuffed doll, especially of cloth.

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rag doll Idioms  

1. A limp, ineffectual person, as in You won't get a decision from her; she's a rag doll when it comes to making up her mind. This expression transfers the limpness of a soft doll made from scraps of cloth to human behavior. [Mid-1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of rag doll

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

"I didn't recognise the men. Or this woman. Her cheek was so flabby. Her mouth so limp. She was like a rag doll," writes the 73-year-old, according to the French-language version.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

Forlorn but oddly hopeful, Sally became the film’s most empathetic character, thanks in part to the depth that O’Hara lent to the sort-of animated rag doll.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

The word “empathy” gets thrown around like a rag doll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 21, 2025

"You held him like a rag doll, didn't you," barrister Gordon Cole KC asked Ives.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2025

Two teammates helped pull him up to his feet like a beaten-up rag doll.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger