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rag
1[ rag ]
noun
- a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn.
- rags, ragged or tattered clothing:
The tramp was dressed in rags.
- any article of apparel regarded deprecatingly or self-deprecatingly, especially a dress:
It's just an old rag I had in the closet.
- a shred, scrap, or fragmentary bit of anything.
- Informal.
- something of very low value or in very poor condition.
- a newspaper or magazine regarded with contempt or distaste:
Are you still subscribing to that rag?
- a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.
- a large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.
rag
2[ rag ]
verb (used without object)
- to subject a person to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way (usually followed by on ):
Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.
- to criticize a person or thing (usually followed by on ): I wish reviewers would stop ragging on the movie.
He rags and whines to me instead of fixing the problem.
I wish reviewers would stop ragging on the movie.
verb (used with object)
- to subject to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way:
He was ragged at school for not joining a sports team.
- to criticize.
- British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.
noun
- British. an act of ragging; a cruel or crude practical joke.
rag
3[ rag ]
verb (used with object)
- to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.
rag
4[ rag ]
noun
- a musical composition in ragtime:
a piano rag.
verb (used with object)
- to play (music) in ragtime.
rag
1/ °ùæɡ /
noun
- a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
- ( as modifier )
rag paper
a rag book
a rag doll
- a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
- informal.a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
- informal.an item of clothing
- informal.a handkerchief
- slang.nautical a flag or ensign
- lose one's ragto lose one's temper suddenly
rag
2/ °ùæɡ /
verb
- to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
- to play rough practical jokes on
noun
- a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student
- 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
- ( as modifier )
rag day
rag
3/ °ùæɡ /
noun
- a piece of ragtime music
verb
- tr to compose or perform in ragtime
rag
4/ °ùæɡ /
noun
- a roofing slate that is rough on one side
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Origin of rag1
Origin of rag2
Origin of rag3
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Origin of rag1
Origin of rag2
Origin of rag3
Origin of rag4
Idioms and Phrases
- from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth:
He went from rags to riches in only three years.
- chew the rag. chew ( def 11 ).
More idioms and phrases containing rag
In addition to the idiom beginning with rag , also see chew the fat (rag) ; from rags to riches ; glad rags ; run ragged .Example Sentences
Not only the goal but everything he did ran Manchester United ragged.
Spiriting information to Ursula, Jen writes a propaganda rag to cover her tracks as she simultaneously writes an underground paper as a means of resistance.
Cushioned chairs once used for official functions stand covered with dust, a few paintings still hang on the walls, ragged chandeliers dangle from the ceilings.
"I was a little bit inconsistent but I battled on. In the past I probably throw those games away. There were some ragged points but I'm glad to get a win."
She suggested we switch to hitting a dust rag around the room, instead.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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