jag
jag — noun
- jagsingular
- jagsplural
1. A span of time, usually lasting hours or days, during which a person keeps doing
A span of time, usually lasting hours or days, during which a person keeps doing one activity in an uncontrolled way — for instance, crying repeatedly, drinking heavily, or spending money without any limit.
After failing his driving test for the third time, Gabriel went on a drinking jag that lasted the whole weekend.
collocation: on a drinking jag
Eve's crying jag finally ended when her neighbour brought over a warm bowl of soup.
collocation: crying jag
The teenager went on a shopping jag with her birthday money and came home with ten new outfits.
Tanvi went on a cleaning jag and scrubbed every single surface in her tiny apartment.
- spree
More general than jag; spree can refer to any unrestrained activity, while jag often implies a repeating, compulsive pattern.
- binge
Overlaps with jag but is more common for eating/drinking; binge is also used as a verb (to binge).
- frenzy
Suggests a more intense, wild state than jag, which may be calmer (e.g. a cleaning jag).
文法句型
jag + noun modifier (e.g. crying/drinking/shopping jag)
on a ... jag
用法筆記
Frequently followed by a noun modifier that names the activity (crying jag, drinking jag, shopping jag). The subject is always a person acting without self-control.
常見錯誤
2. A medical procedure in which a liquid substance, such as a vaccine or medicine,
A medical procedure in which a liquid substance, such as a vaccine or medicine, is pushed into the body through a needle and syringe.
The nurse gave Walid a jag of pain relief before the dentist started drilling.
collocation: give someone a jag
After receiving her flu jag, Hui felt a dull ache in her upper arm for two days.
collocation: flu jag
Felix dreads needles so much that he nearly faints every time he needs a jag.
The doctor recommended a tetanus jag after Mauricio stepped on a rusty nail in the garden.
文法句型
a jag of [substance]
give someone a jag
用法筆記
Chiefly British informal usage. In American English the standard term is 'shot' or 'injection'. The object of the jag is typically a vaccine or painkiller.
常見錯誤
3. A dose of a substance that produces a sudden surge of excitement, alertness, or
A dose of a substance that produces a sudden surge of excitement, alertness, or energy, or the intense sensation that follows taking it.
The athlete claimed she took the drug only once and hated the jag it gave her.
Nikhil described the jag from the stimulant as a short burst of energy followed by a crash.
grammar: a jag from [substance]
Jason called the amphetamine jag a frightening surge that made his heart race for an hour.
Two cups of strong black coffee gave Indra a jag of energy that lasted through a four-hour meeting.
文法句型
a jag of [drug]
get a jag from something
用法筆記
Primarily encountered in literary or historical accounts of substance use, where the focus is on the internal sensation rather than the method of intake. Frequently used with 'of' to name the substance or type of feeling.
4. A thin, pointed section that sticks out from a surface or edge, resembling the t
A thin, pointed section that sticks out from a surface or edge, resembling the tip of a thorn, a shard of broken glass, or a saw tooth.
The jag of broken plastic on the lid cut Ayana's finger when she tried to open the jar.
collocation: jag of [material]
Sven carefully filed down the metal jag on the gate to stop the dog from scratching itself.
The stone wall was covered in frost, and each tiny jag glittered under the winter sun.
Greta noticed a small jag of bone sticking out of the chicken leg and pulled it out before serving dinner.
用法筆記
Often used in the plural (jags) when describing a surface with many sharp projections. The adjective "jagged" (having rough, sharp edges) is far more common than the noun sense.
jag — verb
- jagpresent simple I / you / we / they
- jags3rd person singular
- jagging-ing form
- jaggedpast simple
1. To change position abruptly and unevenly, with short, bouncing or lurching motio
To change position abruptly and unevenly, with short, bouncing or lurching motions like those of a vehicle on a bumpy road.
The old cart jagged along the dirt track, rattling every bone in Lakan's body.
grammar: jagged along [path]
A loose wire made the crane's arm jag to the left before swinging back into place.
The injured bird jagged across the garden path, dragging one wing behind it.
文法句型
jag + adverb of direction
用法筆記
This sense is rare in modern English; speakers are far more likely to use 'jerk' or 'lurch'. Typically describes the physical motion of objects, vehicles, or animals moving unevenly across a surface.
2. To press or drive a pointed tool, such as a needle or a thorn, into the surface
To press or drive a pointed tool, such as a needle or a thorn, into the surface of something with a quick stabbing motion.
A shard of glass jagged Mei's ankle as she waded into the stream.
grammar: sharp object + jag + body part (subject as instrument)
Felipe jagged the tip of his finger on a thorn while pruning the rose bushes in the garden.
The cobbler jagged the thick leather with an awl before stitching the sole back onto the boot.
文法句型
jag + object + with [instrument]
用法筆記
Archaic or literary. In modern English 'prick', 'stab', or 'poke' are preferred. The object is the surface being pierced; the instrument is introduced with 'with'.
3. To cut a series of V-shaped notches, tooth-like indentations, or uneven dips alo
To cut a series of V-shaped notches, tooth-like indentations, or uneven dips along the edge of a piece of material.
The carpenter jagged the edge of the wooden plank to match the decorative pattern on the old cabinet.
Renata jagged the sides of the paper snowflake with small scissors to create a delicate lacy design.
Karim jagged the leather strap into a saw-tooth pattern so it would grip the handle more firmly.
- notch
The closest modern verb; to notch means to cut a V-shaped indentation into an edge.
- serrate
A more technical term meaning to cut into a saw-tooth pattern, common in biology and manufacturing.
- indent
A broader term; indenting means pushing or cutting inward without necessarily creating a sharp edge.
文法句型
jag + object
jag + object + into [shape]
用法筆記
The past participle 'jagged' is far more common than the verb itself; learners will encounter 'jagged' (adjective, meaning having rough, sharp edges) much more often than the base verb.