phone tag
A series of telephone calls made between two people in which each time one party calls, the other is not available to answer. Hi Mary, just leaving you another message. We've had a bit of phone tag today, huh? Just give me a call back whenever you get this, thanks!
play phone tag
To engage in a series of telephone calls with another person in which each time one party calls, the other is not available to answer. Hi Mary, just leaving you another message. We've been playing a bit of phone tag today, huh? Just give me a call back whenever you get this, thanks!
play telephone tag
To engage in a series of telephone calls with another person in which each time one party calls, the other is not available to answer. Hi Mary, just leaving you another message. We've been playing a bit of telephone tag today, huh? Just give me a call back whenever you get this, thanks!
put a price (tag) on (something)
To determine a specific cost or attach a monetary value to something. We're just waiting for them to put a price tag on the project before we begin development. He thinks that flashing his money around will get him friends, but you can't put a price on true friendship.
rag, tag, and bobtail
The lowest social class; the common people. You must be joking—a person of my social status can't eat with the rag, tag, and bobtail at a filthy pub!
tag
1. verb To mark something with graffiti, especially with one's signature mark. As long as people keep tagging this wall, I guess I'll just have to keep repainting it.
2. verb On social media, to post something (such as a status update or a photo) and link it to an account belonging to someone or something else. Ugh, I look awful in that picture, please don't tag me! I'll tag you in my post, don't worry.
3. verb In baseball, for a defensive player to touch an offensive player (a baserunner) with the ball, resulting in them being called "out" if they are not on a base. The ball was hit right to the second baseman, so he easily tagged me.
4. verb To arrest someone in conjunction with a crime. I want this case wrapped up, too, Joe, but there's just not enough evidence to tag him.
5. verb In boxing, to strike an opponent. I got tagged with a few hard punches to the head.
6. noun Such a hit in a boxing match. I took a few rough tags in that match.
7. noun The name or mark that one uses when marking a surface with graffiti. I've seen that tag before—it's all over the city.
8. noun A children's game in which one person (designated as "it") runs around trying to touch ("tag") other people, so that one of them becomes "it." The kids have been out front playing tag for nearly an hour.
9. noun A car's license plate or registration sticker. I only bought my car last week, so it still has temporary tags.
10. noun A name. Hmm, I've never heard that tag before.
11. noun The ending part of a song or piece of music. Just pay attention to the sheet music when we get to the tag.
12. noun, slang The high felt from taking a drug. This is some good stuff—I think you'll really like the tag.
tag along
To accompany or closely follow someone or a group, perhaps when one is not part of the group or when one's presence is not wanted. I decided to tag along and see if they found anything interesting. Do you mind if my little brother tags along? My parents want him to get out of the house for a while.
tag along after (someone)
To accompany or follow closely behind someone, perhaps when one is not part of the group or when one's presence is not wanted. Do you mind if my little brother tags along after us? My parents want him to get out of the house for a while. He insisted on following along after me to make sure I went to class on time.
tag along behind (someone)
To accompany or follow closely behind someone, perhaps when one is not part of the group or when one's presence is not wanted. Do you mind if my little brother tags along behind us? My parents want him to get out of the house for a while. He insisted on following along behind me to make sure I went to class on time.
tag and rag
The lowest social class; the common people. You must be joking—a person of my social status can't eat with the tag and rag at a fast food place!
tag in
1. In tag-team professional wrestling, to tag one's teammate (usually on the hand) and enter the ring to begin wrestling the opponent. Everyone thought he was done for after being smashed by that suplex, but his teammate, The Grave Digger, managed to tag in at the last second. The crowd all booed as Nancy Fury tagged in.
2. slang By extension, to take over someone else's current activity, especially to give them a reprieve. Tom's been looking after the kids all afternoon, so I'm going to go tag in and give him a break. Would you mind tagging in for a while? I need to go make a phone call really quick.
tag off
On public transportation, to tap a RFD-enabled ticket against a digital receiver in order to indicate the end of one's journey and pay the required fare. Passengers are reminded that they must tag off at their destination after disembarking from the tram, or they will be charged the full amount of a one-way journey. I know it said it would cost $5 when you got on the bus, but when you tag off it will come back down to $2.75.
tag on
1. To add something on to something else. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tag" or "on." Excuse me, is it all right if I tag a side of bacon onto my order? If you kids keep talking back there, I'll tag another chapter onto your homework for the weekend.
2. To tap a ticket with an RFD device inside it against a digital receiver in order to pay for one's fare or indicate the beginning of one's journey. You don't have to present your ticket to the driver, just tag on as you get on the bus. Any customers who are caught not tagging on will face a $200 penalty.
tag out
1. In baseball, to tap a runner with the ball in order to remove them from the field and end the play. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tag" and "out." He began rounding third base but was tagged out just before getting to home. The ball bounced right back to the pitcher who immediately tagged the batter out.
2. In tag-team professional wrestling, to tag one's teammate (usually on the hand) and then exit the ring in order to allow the teammate to begin wrestling the opponent. Everyone thought he was done for after being smashed by that suplex, but he managed to tag out at the last minute. The crowd all booed as she tagged out.
3. slang To allow someone else to take over one's current activity, especially to give oneself a reprieve. Sorry George, but I've been trying to get the baby to sleep for over an hour—I need to tag out. Just let me know if you want to tag out at any point.
4. slang To take over someone else's current activity, especially to give them a reprieve. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "tag" and "out." Tom's been looking after the kids all afternoon, so I'm going to go tag him out. Tom arrives at 8 AM to tag out the late-night security guard.
tag team
1. noun A team of two wrestlers who take turns competing against an opposing pair of wrestlers. The two teammates touch hands when one player leaves the ring, so that the other can "tag in." A tag team is only as strong as its weakest member.
2. noun Two people working in cooperation. Now that we're a tag team, I think we'll get through this project a lot faster.
3. verb To work in cooperation with another person. Let's tag team to get this project done.
tag up
In baseball, to return to one's current base and touch one's foot to it until a fly ball is caught by a fielder, after which the baserunner may attempt to run to the next base. He ran back and was barely able to tag up before the ball landed in the midfielder's mitt.
telephone tag
A series of telephone calls made between two people in which each time one party calls, the other is not available to answer. Hi Mary, just leaving you another message. We've had a bit of telephone tag today, huh? Just give me a call back whenever you get this, thanks!
toe tag
1. noun A piece of paper or cardboard attached to the toe of a deceased person's body in order to identify them while in a morgue. The disgruntled employee spent his last day swapping all the toe tags around in order to cause chaos in the morgue.
2. verb To attach such a piece of identification to a body's toe. Sometimes hyphenated. We're just waiting for the mortician to come around and toe tag the body. I can't believe you toe-tagged the poor guy with the wrong information!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.