gag
/ɡæɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡæɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgag/ (ame, mw)
gag — noun
- gagsingular
- gagsplural
1. a length of fabric placed over or inside someone's mouth as a restraint, keeping
a length of fabric placed over or inside someone's mouth as a restraint, keeping them from making any sound with their voice
The kidnappers tied the woman's hands and put a gag over her mouth.
put a gag over [someone]'s mouth
The detective found a torn piece of fabric that had been used as a gag.
used as a gag
When the guard removed the gag, the prisoner shouted for help.
- muzzle
a device that fits over an animal's (or rarely a person's) mouth; more mechanical and less improvised than a cloth gag
文法句型
a gag
the gag
put a gag over/around [someone]
用法筆記
Frequently appears in crime or thriller contexts. Using 'gag' with verbs like 'place' or 'use' can also work figuratively to mean 'silence someone'.
常見錯誤
2. a short joke or amusing remark, especially one delivered by a comedian as part o
a short joke or amusing remark, especially one delivered by a comedian as part of a stage or television performance
The comedian told a clever gag about life in a small town.
tell a gag
One running gag in the show is that the cat always knocks a glass off the table.
running gag
Her best gag of the night got a huge laugh from the audience.
文法句型
a gag
tell a gag
a running gag
用法筆記
This sense is informal. 'Running gag' is a fixed expression meaning a joke that reappears many times throughout a show or conversation.
常見錯誤
3. a playful trick or physical piece of comedy that someone does to make people lau
a playful trick or physical piece of comedy that someone does to make people laugh — for example, swapping the sugar with salt at a party, or pretending a prop has broken during a stage show
As a birthday gag, Chen filled his friend's entire car with bright plastic balls.
birthday gag — occasion + gag collocation for a themed prank
Amara's comic gag involved pretending the microphone had stopped working.
comic gag — adjective + gag describing the type of comedy bit
Kenji and his colleagues planned a clever gag for the end-of-year office party.
- prank
emphasises the trick aspect with a victim; slightly more playful and less performance-oriented than 'gag'
- stunt
often suggests something daring or risky; broader than 'gag' and not limited to comedy
- practical joke
more formal and specific; always involves a physical trick with a setup and payoff
文法句型
play a gag on [someone]
do/perform a gag
a [occasion] gag
用法筆記
Informal register. This sense (PRANK) refers to a physical action or trick, distinct from sense 2 (JOKE), which is a spoken humorous remark. Common verbs are 'play', 'pull', 'do', and 'perform'.
常見錯誤
gag — verb
- gagpresent simple I / you / we / they
- gags3rd person singular
- gagging-ing form
- gaggedpast simple
1. to have your throat and stomach suddenly tighten, making you feel that you might
to have your throat and stomach suddenly tighten, making you feel that you might vomit, especially because of a bad smell, taste, or an unpleasant sight
Priya started to gag when she walked into the room and smelled the rotten fish.
gag at + smell (stimulus)
Theo gagged on a piece of apple and reached for his glass of water.
gag on + object in throat
The sour taste of the old milk made little Mei-Lin gag.
文法句型
gag (at + stimulus)
gag (on + object in throat)
用法筆記
Often describes an involuntary physical reaction to a strong stimulus. This sense is typically intransitive; use 'at' before the thing that causes the reaction, and 'on' before something stuck in the throat.
常見錯誤
2. to place fabric or material into or over a person's mouth so that they cannot ma
to place fabric or material into or over a person's mouth so that they cannot make any sound or call for help
The robbers gagged the security guard and tied his hands behind his back.
gag + person (direct object)
In the film, the kidnappers gagged young Tariq before locking him in the storeroom.
The prisoners were gagged and kept in a dark cell for several hours.
文法句型
gag + person
be gagged (passive)
用法筆記
Usually describes a physical, violent act. The past participle 'gagged' is common in crime or hostage scenes. The figurative sense (preventing speech through rules) is covered by a different sense of this word.
常見錯誤
3. to use laws, rules, or official authority to stop a person or group from publicl
to use laws, rules, or official authority to stop a person or group from publicly expressing their opinions or sharing information.
The government tried to gag the local newspaper before the election.
gag + organization: gag the newspaper
A court order gagged everyone who had seen the secret documents.
passive-like: court order gagged [group]
Several journalists were gagged by the new law and could not report the story.
文法句型
gag + person/organization
be gagged by [law/court/authority]
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive voice or with a court order / law as the agent. The object must be a person, group, or organization capable of speaking publicly — not a document, report, or piece of information.
常見錯誤
4. to feel a very strong desire to do something or have something, typically right
to feel a very strong desire to do something or have something, typically right away.
The children were gagging to open their birthday presents as soon as they woke up.
gagging to + infinitive: gagging to open
After the three-hour meeting, Mei-Lin was gagging for a cup of coffee.
gagging for + noun: gagging for coffee
The team is gagging to get back on the football pitch after their recent win.
文法句型
be gagging for [something]
be gagging to do [something]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the continuous/progressive form ("be gagging"). Very informal — suitable for casual conversation but not for formal writing, job interviews, or polite company. The closely related sense 5 (strong sexual desire) is taboo in most contexts; avoid this expression in mixed or formal settings to prevent misunderstanding.
常見錯誤
5. to feel a very strong, often urgent desire to have sex with a particular person,
to feel a very strong, often urgent desire to have sex with a particular person, especially in informal situations where that person is present or nearby.
After spending the whole evening together, Mateo was clearly gagging for it.
be gagging for it — fixed phrase in informal British English
Chidi's girlfriend could tell he was gagging to get her alone after the birthday dinner.
be gagging to + infinitive for urgent desire
Nadia's friends teased her because she was obviously gagging for the new guy at the office.
- be desperate for
more general — can apply to any strong desire, not just sexual
- be hot for
similar register and sexual meaning, but less common in British English
- be dying for
general eagerness, not specifically sexual
- be indifferent to
opposite end of the desire spectrum
- be turned off by
specifically opposite in a sexual context
文法句型
be gagging for + noun/pronoun
be gagging to + infinitive
用法筆記
Almost always used in the continuous (progressive) form: be gagging. The phrase 'be gagging for it' is a fixed expression — 'it' does not refer to a specific thing, but functions as a placeholder for sex. This sense is much stronger and more direct than the non-sexual 'be gagging to do something' (sense 4), which can apply to any eagerly desired activity.