cause (some) tongues to wag

To be a source of gossip, slander, or idle speculation. Just when the dust of his previous scandal had begun to settle, the governor did something new to cause tongues to wag across the country. Being a celebrity means that anything one does, no matter how banal, is enough to cause some tongues to wag. You have to do what makes you feel happy and fulfilled, even if it causes some tongues to wag.

get tongues (a-)wagging

To be a source of gossip or idle speculation among a group of people. A few people in the office saw the boss get into a car with some lady who was definitely not his wife. That's sure to get tongues wagging! Just when the dust of his previous scandal had begun to settle, the governor did something new to get tongues a-wagging again across the country. All publicity is good publicity, right? So who cares if I get tongues a-wagging in this glitzy minidress?

have a chinwag

To talk or chat, especially idly or at length. Primarily heard in UK. My dad is usually a pretty quiet guy, but don't ask him about electrical engineering unless you want to have a chinwag about it. My wife and her sister haven't seen each other in a while, so I know they're eager to have a chinwag and catch up. Come on in—we're just having a chinwag and catching up about our kids.

hop the wag

To absent oneself or leave early from school when one would normally be required to be there. Primarily heard in UK. Hey, Jim and I are hopping the wag from school on Friday, do you want to come with us? That's the last time you hop the wag, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you off at school every morning! I was so restless and bored that I decided to hop the wag after lunch.

play (the) wag

To absent oneself or leave early from school or work when one would normally be required to be there. Primarily heard in UK. I was so restless and bored at work that I decided to play the wag after lunch. Hey, Jim and I are playing wag from school on Friday, do you want to come with us? That's the last time you play wag, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you to school every morning!

set tongues (a-)wagging

To be a source of gossip or idle speculation. Just when the dust of his previous scandal had begun to settle, the governor committed a new faux pas to set tongues a-wagging across the country. Being such a media celebrity means that anything one does, no matter how banal, is enough to set tongues wagging.

start tongues (a-)wagging

To be a source of gossip, slander, or idle speculation. Just when the dust of his previous scandal had begun to settle, the governor did something new to start tongues a-wagging across the country. Being such a media celebrity means that anything one does, no matter how banal, is enough to start tongues wagging.

the tail that wags the dog

The smallest or least important part of something that is in control of the larger or more important elements; a reversal of typical roles or dynamics of power. They reorganized their entire weekly schedule just because their son likes to sleep in late. Talk about the tail that wags the dog. Their group is small but very vocal, so be sure that management doesn't give in to their demands. We don't want them to become the tail that wags the dog, after all.

the tail wagging the dog

The smallest or least important part of something in control of the larger or more important elements; a reversal of typical roles or dynamics of power. They reorganized their entire weekly schedule just because their son likes to sleep in late. Talk about the tail wagging the dog. Their group is small but very vocal, so be sure that management doesn't give in to their demands. We don't want the tail wagging the dog, after all.

See also: dog, tail, wag

tongues wag

People are or will be spreading gossip (about something). Tongues have been wagging all through the office after the boss was dropped off to work by someone other than her wife. With the way tongues wag in this town, you can't do anything without everyone knowing about it. Just when the dust of his previous scandal had begun to settle, the governor did something new to start tongues wagging across the country yet again.

See also: tongue, wag

wag (it)

To absent oneself or leave early (from school or work) when one would normally be required to be there; to play truant. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I was so restless and bored at work that I decided to just wag it after lunch without telling anyone. Hey, Jim and I are planning on wagging from school on Friday, do you want to come with us? That's the last time you wag class, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you to school every morning!

wag (one's) chin

To talk or chat, especially idly or at length. A less-common variant of "wag one's tongue." My dad is usually a pretty quiet guy, but get him talking about electrical engineering and he can wag his chin for hours at a time. My wife and her sister haven't seen each other in a while, so they've been wagging their chins all afternoon.

wag (one's) tongue

To talk or chat. My dad is a pretty quiet guy, but when he's interested in something, he can really wag his tongue. My wife and her sister haven't seen each other in a while, so they've been wagging their tongues all day.

See also: tongue, wag

wag off

To absent oneself or leave early from school or work when one would normally be required to be there; to play truant. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I was so restless and bored at work that I decided to just wag off after lunch without telling anyone. Hey, Jim and I are planning on wagging off from school on Friday, do you want to come with us? That's the last time you wag off class, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you off to school every morning!

wag school

To absent oneself from school when one would normally be required to be there. Primarily heard in Australia. Hey, Jim and I are wagging school on Friday, do you want to come with us? That's the last time you wag school, mister! From now on, I'm dropping you off every morning!

wag the dog

1. verb In politics, to orchestrate some high-profile event or action in order to distract from something negative or damaging, usually a scandal of some kind. Derived from the phrase "the tail wagging the dog" and popularized by the 1997 satirical film Wag the Dog. A: "You don't find it suspicious that the president ordered air strikes the Middle East the day after all those secret recordings leaked?" B: "What are you suggesting? That's he's wagging the dog?"

2. adjective Describing such a situation. He was unfaithful to his wife, he got caught, and now he needs to face the music. The electorate can see through all his obvious wag the dog attempts at distraction.

WAGs

An acronym for "wives and girlfriends." It is usually applied to wives and girlfriends of famous people, especially professional athletes. Are WAGs invited to the event too?

wagtail

obsolete A promiscuous woman, often a prostitute. Those poor wagtails will have nowhere to turn when they're released, so they'll most likely will end up back on the streets again. Someone needs to tell young Reginald that a woman with a reputation as a wagtail has no place in this celebrated family.

cause (some) tongues to wag

Fig. to cause people to gossip; to give people something to gossip about. The way John was looking at Mary will surely cause some tongues to wag. The way Mary was so scantily dressed will also cause tongues to wag.

set tongues (a)wagging

Fig. to cause people to start gossiping. The affair between the boss and her accountant set tongues a wagging. If you don't get the lawn mowed soon, you will set tongues wagging in the neighborhood.

See also: set, tongue, wag

tail wagging the dog

a situation where a small part is controlling the whole of something. John was just hired yesterday, and today he's bossing everyone around. It's a case of the tail wagging the dog. Why is this small matter taking so much time? Now it's the tail wagging the dog!

See also: dog, tail, wag

wag one's chin

Rur. to talk. She loves to visit. She'll wag her chin for hours. He was on the phone, wagging his chin to his buddy.

tail wagging the dog, the

A small or unimportant factor or element governing an important one; a reversal of the proper roles. For example, She found herself explaining the new therapy to her doctor-a real case of the tail wagging the dog . [c. 1900]

tongues wag

People are gossiping. For example, Tongues wagged when another police car was parked in front of their house, or Their arrival in a stretch limousine set the neighbors' tongues wagging. This metaphoric expression transfers the rapid movement of the tongue to idle or indiscreet chatter. [Late 1500s]

See also: tongue, wag

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

the tail wagging the dog

People talk about the tail wagging the dog to describe a situation where an unimportant part of something or an unimportant person or group involved in something has too much influence over it. These enormous contracts can end up with the tail wagging the dog — with the supplier having more control over the business agenda than the client. To avoid the impression of the tail wagging the dog, the Chancellor cannot be seen being influenced by the wishes of a minority party.

See also: dog, tail, wag

set tongues wagging

If something that you do or say sets tongues wagging, it makes people talk about you. The pop singer set tongues wagging by arriving with a mystery man. Note: You can also say that something starts tongues wagging or that tongues start wagging. Tongues started wagging when Claudia moved from her native Germany to Monaco earlier this year. Note: If people are talking about someone, you can say tongues are wagging. They spent an evening together at his Knightsbridge flat. He said they played cards but added: `No doubt tongues will be wagging.'

See also: set, tongue, wag

the tail wags the dog

the less important or subsidiary factor or thing dominates a situation; the usual roles are reversed.

1997 Spectator What is wrong is the almost total lack of artistic leadership, the administrative tail wagging the dog.

See also: dog, tail, wag

set tongues wagging

be the cause of much gossip or rumour.

See also: set, tongue, wag

the tail (is) wagging the ˈdog

(also let the tail wag the ˈdog) used to describe a situation where a small, unimportant thing controls a larger, more important thing: In this company the workers tell the manager what he can and cannot do. It’s a real case of the tail wagging the dog.

See also: dog, tail, wag

set ˈtongues wagging

(informal) cause people to start talking about somebody’s private affairs: A careless remark about his family really set tongues wagging.

See also: set, tongue, wag

tongues ˈwag

(informal) there is a lot of talk about somebody’s private life, etc: Don’t tell anyone your secret — you know how tongues wag around here.

See also: tongue, wag

wag one’s chin

tv. to talk or jabber; to chatter aimlessly. The two old buzzards sat on the park bench wagging their chins all afternoon.