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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/ æɡ /
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/ æɡ /
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/ æɡ /
noun
- a piece of ragtime music
verb
- tr to compose or perform in ragtime
rag
4/ æɡ /
noun
- a roofing slate that is rough on one side
Word History and Origins
Origin of rag1
Origin of rag2
Origin of rag3
Word 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
We say that the “Cinderella” story is rags to riches, but in all versions, especially the European ones, she is a noble girl put into the kitchen by her wicked stepmother.
PSG delivered in style, running Villa ragged as Unai Emery made an unhappy return to the club where he spent two seasons.
He recalls watching a mature Ash tree, which he estimates had grown over 60 feet tall, being "blown around like a rag doll".
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.
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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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