Dictionary

tail wagging the dog en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

First used in the 1858 play Our American Cousin. The shortened form wag the dog, with a political sense, was popularized by the film Wag the Dog (1997). For the verb phrase, see the tail wags the dog.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) A minor or secondary part of something which is controlling or dominating the whole or the main part.

Deriveds

wag the dog

Relateds

put the cart before the horse

Translations (2)

ka კუდი, რომელიც ძაღლს აქიცინებს (Translations) · fi häntä heiluttaa koiraa (Translations)

wikipedia: Wag the Dog