tag
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!
See also: phone, tag
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!
See also: phone, play, tag
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!
See also: play, tag, telephone
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.
See also: on, price, put
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!
See also: and, bobtail
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.
See also: tag
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.
See also: after, tag
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.
See also: behind, tag
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!
See also: and, rag, tag
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.
See also: tag
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.
See also: off, tag
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.
See also: on, tag
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.
See also: out, tag
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.
See also: tag, team
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.
See also: tag, up
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!
See also: tag, telephone
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!
See also: tag, toe
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
tag along (after someone)
and tag along (behind someone)to follow along after someone; to go along with someone. The family dog tagged along after the children wherever they went. Can I tag along? Do you mind if I tag along behind you?
See also: tag
tag someone out
[in baseball] to touch with the ball, and thereby put someone out. The shortstop tagged the runner out and retired the side. He tagged out the runner.
See also: out, tag
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
rag, tag, and bobtail
a group of people perceived as disreputable or undesirable.A bobtail is a horse or dog with a docked tail, while rag and tag both express the idea of ‘tattered clothes’: the phrase literally means ‘people in ragged clothes together with their dogs and horses’. The forms tag, rag, and bobtail , ragtag and bobtail , and tagrag and bobtail are also found.
See also: and, bobtail
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
tag along
v.
To follow after; accompany: If you're going to the mall, do you mind if I tag along? My sister tagged along with me to the beach.
See also: tag
tag on
v.
To add or append something: She tagged an extra paragraph on the letter. Before sending the package, he tagged on a little note.
See also: on, tag
tag out
v. Baseball
To touch some base runner with the ball in order to put that player out: The shortstop tagged out the runner at second. I tagged the player out and ended the inning.
See also: out, tag
tag up
v. Baseball
To return to and touch a base with one foot before running to the next base after a fielder has caught a fly ball: The runner ran back, tagged up at first base, and then continued on to second.
See also: tag, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
tag
1. n. a name. Everybody knows that tag well.
2. n. euphoria from drug use; a drug rush. The tag from this mojo is something to behold.
3. n. a car license plate or sticker. Don’t forget to get a new tag for this year.
4. n. a blow to the body in boxing. Wilbur landed another tag to the right shoulder before the gong sounded.
5. tv. to punch someone in boxing. The guy tagged him back right in the gut.
6. tv. (in baseball) to touch a runner with the baseball. Wilbur tagged the runner and fell flat on his face.
7. n. the coda or ending section of a piece of music. Now, I want everybody to slow down and watch me on the tag.
8. tv. to charge someone with a crime; to identify and arrest a criminal. The cop tagged him with the bank caper immediately.
9. tv. to mark something with spray paint; to paint something with graffiti. Our guys tagged the school walls last night.
10. n. the painted signature of a graffiti artist. Jeb puts somebody else’s tag on his worst work.
toe tag
tv. to kill someone. (Bodies in the morgue are identified by tags on their big toes.) Man, you treat me that way one more time and I’m gonna toe tag you!
See also: tag, toe
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- phone tag
- telephone tag
- play phone tag
- play telephone tag
- be taking calls
- taking calls
- rings a bell, that
- tough call
- duty calls
- having the time of my life