wag1 verbwag2 noun
wagwag1 /wæɡ/ ●○○ verb (past tense and past participle wagged, present participle wagging) 
WORD ORIGINwag1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old English wagian ‘to shake’VERB TABLE
wag
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | wag |
| he, she, it | wags | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | wagged |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have wagged |
| he, she, it | has wagged | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had wagged |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will wag |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have wagged |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am wagging |
| he, she, it | is wagging | |
| you, we, they | are wagging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was wagging |
| you, we, they | were wagging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been wagging |
| he, she, it | has been wagging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been wagging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be wagging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been wagging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "You shouldn't have done that!'' Mum said, wagging her finger at me.
- A dog wags its tail in order to show friendliness and pleasure.
- Beards wagged, and noodles dangled over them.
- Every time they got near him, he backed off, ecstatic with excitement, tail wagging furiously.
- She wagged dutifully but I could sense she was somewhat overwhelmed - and that was only the staff!
- Tail wagging his thanks, he took the handle of the basket in his mouth and padded happily along beside Angela.
- The old man wobbled and stumbled backwards, wagging his head as if he were trying to shake something out of it.
- They took a peek, and then did everything but lay down and wag their tails.
- Toto only wagged his tail; for, strange to say, he could not speak.
- When I said something to him he would look, wag, and put his snout back to the window.
Longman Language Activatorto shake a part of your body
· Brad got up and shook his legs to get all the grass off.· She shook her long blonde hair.shake your head (=move your head from side to side as a way of saying 'no') · Mom shook her head. "You can't go out again at this time of night."shake your fist (at somebody) (=shake your closed hand in front of someone as a way of showing that you are angry) · "Women drivers!" the truck driver yelled, shaking his fist at me.
to move your toes, fingers, bottom etc with a series of small movements: · Karen sat in front of the fire and wiggled her toes.· Marilyn Monroe was able to wiggle her hips in a way that drove men wild.
British to move part of your body, especially your bottom, legs, or toes, from side to side or up and down, with fairly large movements: · The children were told to lie on their backs and waggle their legs in the air.· I've always wanted to be able to waggle my ears.
if a dog wags its tail, it moves its tail from side to side; if a person wags their finger or head, they shake it repeatedly, especially in order to show that they do not like something that someone has done: · A dog wags its tail in order to show friendliness and pleasure.· "You shouldn't have done that!'' Mum said, wagging her finger at me.
to talk about other people's private lives to spend time talking without a serious purpose, usually about other people's private lives or behaviour: · It's best not to tell Frank anything. You know how he gossips.gossip about: · Those two old ladies sit there every day, gossiping about everyone in town.
if you say that people talk , you mean that they talk about other people's private lives and behaviour, usually in a disapproving way: · We mustn't be seen together in public again. People are starting to talk.
to talk about someone when they are not present: · I hate people who talk about you behind your back and then pretend to be nice to you when they meet you.
used for saying that many people are talking about someone's private life in an unkind or disapproving way: · Tongues are wagging about Hollywood's newest couple.set tongues wagging (=cause people to start talking about you): · Thurmond's marriage so soon after his wife died set tongues wagging.
WORD SETSaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
‘You naughty girl!’ Mom said, wagging her finger at me.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[intransitive, transitive] if a dog wags its tail, or if its tail wags, the dog moves its tail many times from one side to the other2[transitive] to move your finger or head from side to side, especially to show disapproval: ‘You naughty girl!’ Mom said, wagging her finger at me. (=moves its tail from side to side to show pleasure)· The dog stood up and wagged his tail.
· Domino rushed to meet her, tail wagging with excitement.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· He shouted and wagged his finger.· She wags her finger at his thumb-sized back.· The second man smiles, wags his index finger and picks up a copy of his company's annual report.· Walking sticks and umbrellas menace me, wagging fingers harass my sleep.· The man with the thin hair continued to shout and wag his finger.· John wagged his finger at her.· Doktor wagged a metronome finger at me.· I wagged my finger at him, telling him that he had been extremely lucky.
· Carlos wagged his head at her.· She wagged her head, her chin on her knees.· The old man wobbled and stumbled backwards, wagging his head as if he were trying to shake something out of it.· Pete: wag your head like a puppet.
· Domino hurtled past him, tail wagging madly, looking up expectantly at the stranger.· I overcontrolled the pedals, making the tail wag back and forth.· Every time they got near him, he backed off, ecstatic with excitement, tail wagging furiously.· Eddie, however, having no tail to wag, was simply smiling, something he's very good at.· Domino, their elderly Dalmation, rushed to meet her, tail wagging with excitement.· Racing back into the hall with tails wagging furiously, they almost knocked Georgina over.· Loden's hackles subsided, his tail began to wag.
· This is a small island and tongues are beginning to wag.· Now the tongues would start wagging round MI5, MI6 and the other, smaller Intelligence Agencies.
‘You naughty girl!’ Mom said, wagging her finger at me. → it’s (a case of) the tail wagging the dog at tail1(11), → set tongues wagging at tongue1(14)wag1 verbwag2 noun
wagwag2 noun 1[countable] old-fashioned someone who says or does something clever and amusing: Some wag had drawn a face on the wall.2[countable usually singular] a wagging movement