ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gag for

phr. v..
C1 Advanced Oxford British English Informal

phr. v.. to want something very much. You use this when you are extremely eager for a drink, food, or an experience.

phr. v.. to have an intense desire or craving for something; often used to express a desperate need for a specific item or activity.


SIMPLE

I am gagging for a cup of tea.

CONTEXTUAL

After that long meeting in the hot sun, everyone was gagging for a cold beer.

COMPLEX

By the end of the dry January challenge, he was absolutely gagging for a glass of red wine with his Sunday roast.

Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
be + gagging + for + object
Usage

usually used in the continuous form ('be gagging for') and followed by a noun.

Teaching tip

this is a very common British colloquialism; explain that while 'gag' usually means to choke, here it suggests a thirst so strong it affects the throat.

Pitfall

I gag for a coffee.I am gagging for a coffee.this phrase is almost exclusively used in the continuous '-ing' form to show current, strong desire.

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