# gag for

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gag-for
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- I am gagging for a cup of tea.
- After that long meeting in the hot sun, everyone was gagging for a cold beer.
- By the end of the dry January challenge, he was absolutely gagging for a glass of red wine with his Sunday roast.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I gag for a coffee." but "I am gagging for a coffee." — this phrase is almost exclusively used in the continuous '-ing' form to show current, strong desire.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.