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# wag

verb (wag, wags, wagged, wagging); noun (a wag — a wave of the tail; a joker, old-fashioned)

«wag» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To move quickly from side to side or up and down, especially a dog's tail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#m1)
2. To shake a finger at someone to show you disagree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#m2)
3. "Wag" or "wag school" means skip school without permission (Australian and New Zealand slang). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#m3)

### In the lessons

In animal safety lessons, a wagging tail does not always mean a dog is friendly; a stiff or high wag can mean it is nervous or angry, so ask the owner before patting. In stories, a dog's wagging tail shows happiness. Phrases: wag its tail, tongues wag (people gossip), wag a finger.

### Examples

- The puppy wagged its tail when I came home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#x1)
- A wagging tail doesn't always mean a happy dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#x2)
- Grandma wagged her finger at me. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#x3)
- Tongues will wag if you do that. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#x4)
- The dog's whole body wagged with joy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#x5)
- Always ask before you pat a dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb, double g: wagged, wagging. "Tongues wag" means people gossip. Safety: read the whole dog — ears, body and tail — not just the wag.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Prophets, wagging the hand is a sign of scorn at a ruined city. The other verses use "wager" and mean a bet or a challenge.

**Interpretation.** Zephaniah's picture of a city mocked by passers-by is read as a warning about the fall of Nineveh.

### Examples

- Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. (Prophets ZEP.2.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wag/#x1)
- Now therefore, I pray thee, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. (Prophets 2KI.18.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wag/#x2)
- Now therefore, I pray thee, make a wager with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. (Prophets ISA.36.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wag/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb, double g: wagged, wagging. "Tongues wag" means people gossip. Safety: read the whole dog — ears, body and tail — not just the wag.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «wag» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wag/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wag» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wag.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «wag» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wag/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wag» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/wag.html) on Mova free.