on the rag en · ADP
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From rag as a slang term for a menstrual pad. First use appears c. 1967. See cite below.
Meanings
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(derogatory, euphemistic, idiomatic, slang, sometimes, vulgar) Menstruating.
She herself had begun menstruation shortly after her eleventh birthday and had gone to the head of the stairs to yell down excitedly: "Hey, Mum, I'm on the rag!"
1974, Stephen King, Carrie, page 14:Harold: How is Sarah? I don't want to jump her while she's on the rag.
1983, The Big Chill:
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(broadly, derogatory, idiomatic, slang, vulgar) In a bad mood; angry or irritable.
On the rag, in a bad mood.—College males, Arizona. I had a lousy time last night because she was on the rag.
1967, University of South Dakota, English Dept, Current Slang, Volumes 2-5, page 5:
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, the, rag.