Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural rags, present participle ragging, past tense, past participle ragged
1. variable noun
A rag is a piece of old cloth which you can use to clean or wipe things.
He was wiping his hands on an oily rag.
...a bundle of old rags.
It looked like a piece of rag.
Synonyms: cloth, piece of cloth More Synonyms of rag
2. plural noun
Rags are old torn clothes.
There were men, women and small children, some dressed in rags.
3. countable noun
People refer to a newspaper as a rag when they have a poor opinion of it.
[informal, disapproval]
'This man Tom works for a local rag,' he said.
4. verb
To rag someone means to make fun of them in an unkind way.
[British]
She was about thirty, ten years older than the youngsters ragging her. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: tease, provoke, needle [informal], mock More Synonyms of rag
5. See also ragged
6.
See lose one's rag
7.
See rags to riches
8.
See like a red rag to a bull
More Synonyms of rag
rag in British English1
(ræɡ)
noun
1.
a.
a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
b.
(as modifier)
a rag doll
a rag book
rag paper
2.
a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
3. informal
a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
4. informal
an item of clothing
5. informal
a handkerchief
6. British slang especially navy
a flag or ensign
7. lose one's rag
Word origin
C14: probably back formation from ragged, from Old English raggig; related to Old Norse rögg tuft
rag in British English2
(ræɡ)
verbWord forms: rags, ragging or ragged(transitive)
1.
to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
2. British
to play rough practical jokes on
noun
3. British
a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student
4. (in British universities)
a.
a period, usually a week, in which various events are organized to raise money for charity, including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux
b.
(as modifier)
rag day
Word origin
C18: of uncertain origin
rag in British English3
(ræɡ) jazz
noun
1.
a piece of ragtime music
verbWord forms: rags, ragging or ragged
2. (transitive)
to compose or perform in ragtime
Word origin
C20: shortened from ragtime
rag in British English4
(ræɡ)
noun
a roofing slate that is rough on one side
Word origin
C13: of obscure origin
rag in American English1
(ræg)
noun
1.
a waste piece of cloth, esp. one that is old or torn
2.
a small piece of cloth for dusting, cleaning, washing, etc.
3.
anything considered to resemble a rag in appearance or in lack of value
4. [pl.]
a.
old, worn clothes
b.
any clothes
used humorously see also glad rags
5. US
the axis and white, tough membrane of citrus fruits
6.
cotton and other cloth fibers used in making high-quality papers for documents, stationery, etc.
7. Slang
a newspaper, esp. one viewed with contempt
adjective
8.
made of rags
a rag doll
9. Informal
of or involved in the manufacture and sale of clothing, esp. women's clothing
the rag trade
Idioms:
chew the rag
Word origin
ME ragge < OE ragg- (in raggig, ragged) < ON rögg, tuft of hair < IE base *reu-, to tear up > rug, L ruere, to tumble down, rake up, rudis, rough
rag in American English2
(ræg)
verb transitiveWord forms: ragged or ˈragging Slang
1.
to tease, scold, criticize, or nag
often with on
2. British
to play a practical joke or jokes on
noun British
3.
an act or instance of ragging
4.
(one of) a series of activities by university students to raise money for charity
Word origin
< 19th-c. Brit university slang < ?
rag in American English3
(ræg)
noun
a roofing slate with one rough side
rag in American English4
(ræg)
noun
1. US
a composition in ragtime
verb transitiveWord forms: ragged or ˈragging US
2.
to play in ragtime
More idioms containing
rag
a red rag to a bull
lose your rag
Examples of 'rag' in a sentence
rag
Put on your glad rags and remember the couple that you used to be.
The Sun (2017)
She inhabits a world most are dying to read about in gossip rags.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She just dressed in any old rags.
Shawn Levy READY, STEADY, GO!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool (2002)
So get your glad rags on and cheer on a winning stallion.
The Sun (2009)
People wore masks or tied rags about their faces.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Put on your glad rags and book a babysitter.
The Sun (2012)
His stiff dignity hung about him in rags and tatters.
Frances Hodgson Burnett Emily Fox-Seton (1901)
The purveyor of luxury goods has decided to replace some old rags with shiny new stock for spring.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That too failed, so oily rags were lit to set fire to the den.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
rag
British English: rag /ræɡ/ NOUN
A rag is a piece of old cloth which you can use to clean or wipe things.
...dry it with a rag.
American English: rag
Arabic: خَرْقَة
Brazilian Portuguese: trapo
Chinese: 抹布
Croatian: krpa
Czech: hadr
Danish: klud
Dutch: vod
European Spanish: trapo
Finnish: riepu
French: guenille
German: Fetzen
Greek: κουρέλι
Italian: straccio
Japanese: ぼろきれ
Korean: 헝겊 조각
Norwegian: fille
Polish: szmata
European Portuguese: trapo
Romanian: cârpă
Russian: ковер
Latin American Spanish: trapo
Swedish: trasa
Thai: ผ้าขี้ริ้ว
Turkish: çaput
Ukrainian: ганчірка
Vietnamese: giẻ rách
All related terms of 'rag'
do-rag
a cloth tied around the head to keep a process hairstyle in place; also , any bandanna worn around the head
rag on
If you rag on someone, you speak angrily to them because they have done something wrong .
rag rug
A rag rug is a small carpet made of old pieces of cloth stitched or woven together .
red rag
a provocation ; something that infuriates
nose rag
a handkerchief
rag doll
A rag doll is a soft doll made of cloth.
rag trade
The rag trade is the business and industry of making and selling clothes, especially women's clothes.
rag week
(in British universities) a period, usually a week , in which various events are organized to raise money for charity , including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux
snot rag
a handkerchief
tack rag
a cotton cloth impregnated with an oil, used to remove dust from a surface prior to painting
wash-rag
A wash-rag is the same as a → washcloth .
rag-rolling
a decorating technique in which paint is applied with a roughly folded cloth in order to create a marbled effect
chew the rag
to converse idly; chat
lose one's rag
If you lose your rag , you suddenly become so angry that you are not in control of yourself.
lose your rag
to suddenly lose your temper with someone and get very angry
ragbag
A ragbag of things is a group of things which do not have much in common with each other, but which are being considered together.
ragtag
If you want to say that a group of people or an organization is badly organized and not very respectable , you can describe it as a ragtag group or organization.
rag-and-bone man
A rag-and-bone man is a person who goes from street to street in a vehicle or with a horse and cart buying things such as old clothes and furniture.
a red rag to a bull
something which always makes a particular person very angry
like a red rag to a bull
If you describe something as a red rag to a bull , you mean that it is certain to make a particular person or group very angry .
junkman
a man who buys and sells discarded clothing , furniture , etc
junkmen
a man who buys and sells discarded clothing, furniture , etc
Chinese translation of 'rag'
rag
(ræɡ)
n
(c/u) (= piece of cloth) 破布 (pòbù) (块(塊), kuài)
(c) (inf, pej, = newspaper) 小报(報) (xiǎobào)
vt
(Brit, = tease) 戏(戲)弄 (xìnòng)
Derived Forms
ragsn pl (= torn clothes) 破旧(舊)衣服 (pòjiù yīfu) : in rags衣衫褴(襤)褛(褸) (yīshān lánlǚ) , a rags-to-riches story从(從)赤贫(貧)到暴富的故事 (cóng chìpín dào bàofù de gùshi)
1 (noun)
Definition
a small piece of cloth
He was wiping his oily hands on a rag.
Synonyms
cloth
piece of cloth
2 (noun)
Definition
a newspaper
(informal)
He works for the local rag.
Synonyms
newspaper
paper
The story is in all the papers.
journal
He was a spokesperson for The New York Times and some other journals.
tabloid
newsletter
periodical
The walls were lined with books and periodicals.
broadsheet
(plural noun)
Definition
old tattered clothing
There were men, women and children, some dressed in rags.
Synonyms
tatters
old clothes
tattered clothes
torn clothes
tattered clothing
Opposites
finery
,
Sunday best
,
gladrags
phrase
See in rags
idiom
See lose your rag
(verb)
Definition
to tease
She was ten years older than the youngsters ragging her.
Synonyms
tease
He teased me mercilessly about going there.
provoke
needle (informal)
She could see that she had needled him with her constant questions.
mock
I thought you were mocking me.
bait
He delighted in baiting his friends.
rib (informal)
wind up (British, slang)
torment
My older brother used to torment me by singing it to me.
ridicule
I admire her for allowing them to ridicule her.
taunt
Other youths taunted him about his clothes.
goad
take the mickey (out of) (informal)
take the piss (out of) (taboo, slang)
gibe
pull someone's leg (informal)
Of course I won't tell them; I was only pulling your leg.
jerk or yank someone's chain (informal)
(noun)
It all feels like a rag week that went on for a few years too long.
Synonyms
fundraising event
charity event
charitable event
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bait
Definition
to persecute or tease
He delighted in baiting his friends.
Synonyms
tease,
provoke,
annoy,
irritate,
guy (informal),
bother,
needle (informal),
plague (informal),
mock,
rag,
rib (informal),
wind up (British, slang),
hound,
torment,
harass,
ridicule,
taunt,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
badger,
gall,
persecute,
pester,
goad,
irk,
bedevil,
take the mickey out of (informal),
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
chaff,
gibe,
get on the nerves of (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
be on the back of (slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in the hair of (informal),
get or take a rise out of,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of journal
Definition
a newspaper or magazine
He was a spokesperson for The New York Times and some other journals.
Synonyms
newspaper,
paper,
daily,
weekly,
monthly,
tabloid
in the sense of mock
Definition
to behave with scorn or contempt towards a person or thing
I thought you were mocking me.
Synonyms
laugh at,
insult,
tease,
ridicule,
taunt,
scorn,
sneer,
scoff,
deride,
flout,
make fun of,
wind someone up (British, slang),
poke fun at,
chaff,
take the mickey out of (informal),
jeer at,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
show contempt for,
make a monkey out of,
laugh to scorn
Synonyms of 'rag'
rag
Explore 'rag' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of needle
Definition
to goad or provoke
She could see that she had needled him with her constant questions.
Synonyms
irritate,
anger,
provoke,
annoy,
sting,
bait,
harass,
taunt,
infuriate,
nag,
hassle (informal),
aggravate,
prod,
gall (old-fashioned),
ruffle,
spur,
prick,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
goad,
irk,
rile,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
hack you off (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get your back up (informal),
run up the wrong way,
pester,
pique (old-fashioned),
be on your back (slang)
in the sense of paper
Definition
The story is in all the papers.
Synonyms
newspaper,
news,
daily,
journal,
organ,
rag (informal),
tabloid,
gazette,
broadsheet,
blat
in the sense of periodical
Definition
a publication issued at regular intervals, usually monthly or weekly
The walls were lined with books and periodicals.
Synonyms
publication,
paper,
review,
magazine,
journal,
weekly,
monthly,
organ,
serial,
quarterly,
zine (informal)
in the sense of pull someone's leg
Of course I won't tell them; I was only pulling your leg.
Synonyms
tease,
joke,
trick,
fool,
kid (informal),
have (someone) on,
rag,
rib (informal),
wind up (British, slang),
deceive,
hoax,
make fun of,
poke fun at,
twit,
chaff,
lead up the garden path,
jerk or yank someone's chain (informal)
in the sense of ridicule
Definition
to make fun of or mock
I admire her for allowing them to ridicule her.
Synonyms
laugh at,
mock,
make fun of,
make a fool of,
humiliate,
taunt,
sneer at,
parody,
caricature,
jeer at,
scoff at,
deride,
send up (British, informal),
lampoon,
poke fun at,
take the piss (out of) (taboo, slang),
chaff,
take the mickey out of (informal),
satirize,
pooh-pooh,
laugh out of court,
make a monkey out of,
make someone a laughing stock,
laugh to scorn
in the sense of taunt
Definition
to tease or provoke (someone) with jeering remarks
Other youths taunted him about his clothes.
Synonyms
jeer,
mock,
tease,
ridicule,
provoke,
insult,
torment,
sneer,
deride,
revile,
twit,
take the piss (out of) (taboo, slang),
guy (informal),
gibe
in the sense of torment
Definition
to tease or pester (a person or animal) in an annoying or cruel way
My older brother used to torment me by singing it to me.